JOSEPH SMITH'S 
TEACHINGS 




i 



Class : 



Book 






GqpgtaN?.. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



Joseph Smith's Teachings 

A Classified Arrangement of 

The Doctrinal Sermons and Writings of 
the Great Latter-day Prophet 



COMPILED "BY EDWIN F. PARRY 

From the Authorized "History of the Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-day Saints" 



THE DESERET NEWS 
Salt Lake City, Utah 

1912 






& 



Copyright by 
EDWIN F. PARRY 
1912 




tmp96 



CGL.A8.12I99 



PREFACE. 

This book is a compilation of the Prophet 
Joseph Smith's sermons and religious doctrinal 
writings as preserved in the authorized "History 
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints/' written under his personal direction and 
supervision, and now published in six volumes. 

The Prophet's teachings herein presented are 
of great value and interest to the earnest seeker 
after truth. Being largely devoted to amplify- 
ing and expounding the Holy Scriptures, they 
are supplementary to what is contained in the 
Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and 
Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. 

It should be understood that the Prophet's 
sermons, as recorded in the History of the 
Church, are not word for word as he preached 
them. His scribes wrote as best they could in 
longhand the substance of his remarks, and 
consequently the reports are incomplete. 



4 PREFACE. 

In this work the Prophet's utterances are ar- 
ranged according to subject and placed in alpha- 
betical order, so that they may be referred to 
readily. It is hoped that in this form they will 
be of service to the student of the Gospel. 

The Compiler. 



CONTENTS. 



Accusers of the Brethren 9 

Adultery 9 . 

Angels 9 

Apostasy, the Sign of 9 

Apostates, Reinstatement of 10 

Apostles, the Authority they are Subject to 10 

Apostles, Duty of the Twelve 10 

Apostles Subject Only to First Presidency 11 

Articles of Faith 11 • 

Baptism 13- 

Baptism, a Holy Ordinance 14* 

Baptism for the Dead 15 • 

Baptism, Sectarian 15 

Baptism of Water and the Spirit 16 

Bible, The 16 

Book of Mormon, What it is 17^ 

Book of Mormon, Keystone of Our Religion 17 

Book of Mormon Title Page 17 

Book of Mormon, Words of the Angel Concerning 

Its Translation 18 

Bishops 18 

Celestial Kingdom, Vision of the 18* 

Christ 20 

Christian World, Condition of 20 

Church Officers, Authority of 21 

Comforters, Two , 21 • 

Condemnation in Refusing Blessings 26 

Constitution of the United States 23 

Constitution of the United States — Its One Fault.. 24 

Councils, Order in 25 

Creeds, Denominational 26 

Debating, Advice on 26 

Earth when Sanctified 27* 

Elias, Elijah, Messiah, Spirit of 27 * 

Election 35 * 

End of the World, Meaning of 36 * 

Evangelist 37 

Evil, Individual Responsibility for 37 * 

Faith 38 • 

Faith, How it Comes 38 * 

Faith and Its Fruits 38 

Faith and Spirtual Gifts 38 . 

Freedom of Belief 39 

Gathering of Israel, Preparations for 39 

Gathering of Israel, The Time of 40 

Gathering of Israel, Purpose of 41 



O CONTENTS. 

Gathering of Saints in Last Days 43 

Gentiles Grafted in 47 

Gift of the Holy Ghost !!!!"!!! 49 

Gift of Tongues 49 

Gift of Tongues to be Exercised with Care 49 

Gift of Tongues, Purpose of 50 

Glory, Degrees of, in Eternal World 51 * 

Glory, Prophet's Views on the Revelation on the 

Degrees of 52 * 

God, Coming in Presence of 53 * 

God's Promises not to be Trifled with 53 

God's Kingdom 54 < 

Gods, Plurality of 54 

Godhead, The 63 * 

Gospel Adds to the Good People May Possess 64 

Happiness 64 

Healing of the Sick, Ordinance for 67 

High Council, Instructions for 67 

High Priests 68 

High Priests, Duty of 69 

Holy Ghost 69 

Holy Ghost and Gift of Holy Ghost 69 

Holy Ghost, Gift of 70 

Humility Becoming to Saints 81 

Humility and Brotherhood 81 

Israel 82 

Immortality, Conditions of - 82.* 

Indians, Policy of Government Respecting 83 

Infidel, The, and Death-bed Repentance 84 

Intemperance, Reflections on 84 

Jesus Christ's Reign on Earth 85 «. 

Jesus Christ's Second Coming 85 * 

John the Baptist, Greatness and Mission 87 

Judgment, Duty in Passing 89* 

Judgments, False Ideas About 90 « 

Judgment, Doctrine of Eternal 90 » 

Kingdom of God, The 92 > 

Kingdom of God, Seeing and Entering the 97 . 

Knowledge Saves Mankind 97 « 

Law of the Lord 98* 

Lord's Supper, Partaking of it Worthily 98 

Love, The Principle of 99 * 

Man's Duty to Animal Creation 101 

Man's Relationship to God 101 5 

Marriage an Institution of Heaven 103 

Marriage Covenant, Importance of the Eternity of 104 • 

Matter, No Such Thing as Immaterial 104 • 

Mercy and Forgiveness 105 

Mercy of God Everlasting 105 • 

Members of Church Not to Receive Instruction for 

those Higher in Authority 105 

Missionaries, Advice to 105 

Missionaries, Duty of 106 

Mormonism, One Fundamental Principle of HO. 



CONTENTS. 7 

Murderer, Fate of a 110 • 

Persecution to be Endured without Murmuring-. . . . 110 

Priests 111< 

Priesthood Ill 

Priesthood, Eternity of, Nature of, Its Restoration, 

etc 121 

Priesthood, The Melchisedek 125* 

Priesthood, The Sealing" Power in the 126 : 

Priesthood, Fullness of — How Obtained 128 « 

Prophet, Nature of a 128 

Prophet Not Always a Prophet 129 

Prophetic Calling, Defense of 130 

Records, Importance of 133 

Reincarnation 135 * 

Repentance and Baptism 136 

Repentance, Not to be Trifled with 136 

Reproof, Necessity for 136 

Resurrection, The 137 * 

Revelation, No Salvation Without 142 

Revelation, Spirit of 143 

Revelation, Who Entitled to Receive 143 

Revelation the Rock on which Christ's Church is 

to be Built 144 

Sacrifice Required of those who would Attain to 

Greatest Reward 144 

Saints and Sectarians, Difference Between 144 

Salvation of Children 145 » 

Salvation, Means of 145 

Salvation, Meaning- of . 146 

Salvation and Education 146 

Salvation Through Knowledge 147 » 

Salvation Through Obedience to God 150 • 

Salvation for the Dead 150, 152 * 

Scripture Correction 154 

Scripture Explanation 155 

Scriptures Expounded 156 

Self-Righteousness Reproved 161 

Seventies, Calling- of 161 

Seventies, Duty and Rights of 162 

Sign of the Son of Man 162 

Sign Seekers 163 

Sinning Wilfully 163 * 

Sons of Perdition 164 - 

Spirit and Body, Difference Between 164 . 

Spriit, a Bad 164 

Spirit of Elias 164 

Spirit and Matter 164 

Spirits and Angels 164 

Spirits, Character of 166 

Spirit of Man Eternal 166 1 

Spirits in Prison 166 • 

Spirits to be Tested 167, 

Spirits, The World of 184 » 

Spiritual Gifts 185 



O CONTENTS. 

Temples, Laying" Corner Stones of 185 

Tongues 186 

Translated Bodies 186 1 

Transmigration of Souls a Doctrine of the Devil.. 186 

Treason, Beware of 187 

Visions 188 

Wicked, The Punishment of the 188 

Women Not to Found Churches 188 * 

Wrong-Doing to be Proved by Evidence 189 

Zion, Importance of Gathering to 189 

Zion, Warning to 189 

Zion, Redemption of . . .'. 190 

Zion, What Prophets Have Said Concerning 191 

Zion, Ransomed of the Lord to Come to 191 

Zion, Whole of America 192 



JOSEPH SMITH'S TEACHINGS. 



Accusers of the Brethren — I charged the 
Saints not to follow the example of the adversary 
in accusing the brethren, and said, "If you do 
not accuse each other, God will not accuse you. 
If you have no accuser you will enter heaven, and 
if you follow the revelations and instructions 
which God gives you through me, I will take you 
into heaven as my back load. If you will not ac- 
cuse me, I will not accuse you. If you will throw 
a cloak of charity over my sins, I will over yours 
— for charity covereth a multitude of sins. What 
many people call sin is not sin ; I do many things 
to break down superstition, and I will break it 
down." — History of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 445. 

Adultery — If a man commit adultery, he can- 
not receive the celestial kingdom of God. Even 
if he is saved in any kingdom, it cannot be the 
celestial kingdom. — History of the Church, Vol. 
6, p. 81. 

Angels — See Spirits and Angels. 

Apostasy, The Sign of — I will give you one of 
the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom. It is 
an eternal principle, that has existed with God 
from all eternity : That man who rises up to con- 
demn others, finding fault with the Church, say- 
ing that they are out of the way while he him- 



10 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

self is righteous, then know assuredly, that that 
man is jn the high road to apostasy ; and if he 
does not repent, will apostatize as God lives. 
The principle is as correct as the one that Jesus 
put forth in saying that he who seeketh a sign is 
an adulterous person; and that principle is eter- 
nal, undeviating, and firm as the pillars of 
heaven; for whenever you see a man seeking 
after a sign you may set it down that he is an 
adulterous man. — History of the Church, Vol. 3, 
p. 385. 

Apostates, Reinstatement of — Respecting an 
apostate, or one who has been cut off from the 
Church, and who wishes to come in again, the 
law of our Church expressly says that such shall 
repent, and be baptized, and be admitted as at 
first. — History of the Church, Vol. 1, p. 338. 

Apostles, The Authority They are Subject to 

— I decided that the High Council had nothing 
to do with the Twelve, or the decisions of the 
Twelve. But if the Twelve erred they were ac- 
countable only to the General Council of the 
authorities of the whole Church, according to 
the revelations.— History of the Church, Vol. 2, 
p. 285. 

Apostles, Duty of the Twelve — Brother Jo- 
seph then addressed the Twelve, and said that 
in all our counsels, especially while on trial of 
any one, we should see and observe all things 
appertaining to the subject, and discern the 
spirit by which either party was governed. We 



* JOSEPH SMITHES TEACHINGS. 11 

should be in a situation to understand every 
spirit and judge righteous judgment and not be 
• asleep. We should keep order and not let the 
council be imposed upon by unruly conduct. 
The Saints need not think because I am fa- 
miliar with them and am playful and cheerful, 
that I am ignorant of what is going on. Ini- 
quity of any kind cannot be sustained in the 
Church, and it will 1 not fare well where I am ; 
for I am determined while I do lead the 
Church, to lead it right. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 5, p. 411. 

Apostles Subject only to First Presidency — 

The Twelve are not subject to any other than 
the first Presidency, viz., "myself," said the 
Prophet, "Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. 
Williams, who are now my Counselors ; and 
where I am not, there is no First Presidency 
over the Twelve." — History of the Church, 
Vol. 2, p. 374. 

Articles of Faith — We believe in God the 
eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ, 
and in the Holy Ghost. 

We believe that men will be punished for 
their own sins, and not for Adam's transgres- 
sion. 

We believe that through the atonement of 
Christ all mankind may be saved by obedi- 
ence to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. 

We believe that the first principles and ordi- 
nances of the Gospel are: (1) Faith in the 



12 joseph smith's TEACHINGS. 

Lord Jesus Christ; (2) Repentance; (3) Bap- 
tism by immersion for the remission of sins; 
(4) Laying on of hands for the gift of the 
Holy Ghost. 

We believe that a man must be called of God 
by prophecy and by the laying on of hands, 
by those who are in authority, to preach the 
Gospel and administer in the ordinances there- 
of. 

We believe in the same organization that 
existed in the primitive Church, viz: apostles, 
prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc. 

We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, 
revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of 
tongues, etc. 

We believe the Bible to be the word of God, 
as far as it is translated correctly; we also be- 
lieve the Book of Mormon to be the word of 
God. 

We believe all that God has revealed, all 
that He does now reveal, and we believe that 
He will yet reveal many great and important 
things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 

We believe in the literal gathering of Israel 
and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes ; that 
Zion will be built upon this [the American] 
continent; that Christ will reign personally 
upon the earth; and that the earth will be re- 
newed and receive its paradisiacal glory. 

We claim the privilege of worshiping Al- 
mighty God according to the dictates of our 
own conscience, and allow all men the same 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 13 

privilege, let them worship how, where, or 
what they may. 

We believe in being subject to kings, pres- 
idents, rulers and magistrates, in obeying, hon- 
oring, and sustaining the law. 

We believe in being honest, true, chaste, 
benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all 
men ; indeed we may say that we follow the 
admonition of Paul, We believe all things, 
we hope all things, we have endured many 
things, and hope to be able to endure all things. 
If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of 
good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after 
these things. — History of the Church, Vol. 4, 
p. 540. 

Baptism — God has made certain decrees 
which are fixed and immovable ; for instance, 
— God set the sun, the moon, and the stars in 
the heavens, and gave them their laws, con- 
ditions and bounds, which they cannot pass, 
except by His commandments; they all move 
in perfect harmony in their sphere and order, 
and are as lights, wonders and signs' unto us. 
The sea also has its bounds which it cannot 
pass. God has set many signs on the earth, as 
well as in the heavens; for instance, the oak of 
the forest, the fruit of the tree, the herb of the 
field — all bear a sign that seed hath been 
planted there ;, for it is a decree of the Lord 
that every tree, plant, and herb bearing seed 
should bring forth of its kind, and cannot come 
forth after any other law or principle. Upon the 



14 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

same principle do I contend that baptism is a 
sign ordained of God, for the believer in 1 Christ 
to take upon himself in order to enter into the 
kingdom of God, for "except a man be born of 
water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the 
kingdom of God," said the Savior. It is a sign 
and a commandment which God has set for 
man to enter into His kingdom. Those who 
seek to enter in any other way will seek in 
vain ; for God will not receive them, neither 
will the angels acknowledge their works as ac- 
cepted, for they have not obeyed the ordi- 
nances, nor attended to the signs which God 
ordained for the salvation of man, to prepare 
him for, and give him a title to, a celestial 
glory; and God had decreed that all who will 
not obey His voice shall not escape the damna- 
tion of hell. What is the damnation of hell? 
To go with that society who have not obeyed 
His commands. 

Baptism is a sign to God, to angels, and to 
heaven that we do 1 the will of God, and there is 
no other way beneath the heavens whereby 
God hath ordained for man to come to Him to 
be saved, and enter into the kingdom of God, 
except faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and 
baptism for the remission of sins, and any other 
course is in vain ; then you have the promise of 
the gift of the Holy Ghost. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 4, p. 554. 

Baptism, a Holy Ordinance — Baptism is a 
holy ordinance preparatory to the reception 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 15 

of the Holy Ghost; it is the channel and key 
by which the Holy Ghost will be administered. 
— History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 379. 

Baptism, Sectarian — Many objections are 
urged against the Latter-day Saints for not ad- 
mitting the validity of sectarian baptism, and 
for withholding fellowship from sectarian 
churches. Yet to do otherwise would be like 
putting new wine into old bottles, and putting 
old wine into new bottles. What ! new reve- 
lations in the old churches? New revelations 
would knock out the bottom of their bottom- 
less pit. New wine into old bottles ! The bot- 
tles burst and the wine runs out ! What ! Sad- 
ducees in the new church ! Old wine in new 
leathern bottles will leak through the pores 
and escape. So the Sadducee saints mock at 
authority, kick out of the traces, and run to 
the mountains of perdition, leaving the long 
echo of their braying behind them. — History 
oT the Church, Vol, 4, p. 426. 

Baptism of Water and the Spirit — The gos- 
pel requires baptism by immersion for the re- 
mission of sins, which is the meaning of the 
word in the original language — namely, to bury 
or immerse. 

We ask the sects, Do you believe this? They 
answer, No. I believe in being converted. I 
believe in this tenaciously. So did the Apostle 
Peter and the disciples of Jesus. But I further 
believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost by the 



16 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

laying on of hands. Evidence by Peter's preach- 
ing on the day of Pentecost, Acts 1 2 :38. You 
might as well baptize a bag of sand 1 as a man, 
if not done in view of the remission of sins and 
getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water 
is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing 
without the other half — that is, the baptism of 
the Holy Ghost. 

The Savior says, "Except a man be born of 
water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into 
the kingdom of God/' — History of the Church, 
Vol. 5, p. 499. 

Baptism for the Dead — He said the Bible 
supported the doctrine [of baptism for the 
dead], quoting I Cor., xv:29: "Else what shall 
they do which are baptized for the dead, if the 
dead rise not at all, why are they then bap- 
tized for the dead?" If there is one word of 
the Lord that supports the doctrine of baptism 
for the dead, it is enough to establish it as a 
true doctrine. Again ; if we can, by the author- 
ity of the Priesthood of the Son of God, bap- 
tize a man in the name of the Father, of the 
Son, and of the Holy Ghost, for the remission 
of sins', it is 1 just as much our privilege to act 
as an agent 1 , and be baptized for the remission 
of sins for and in behalf of our dead kindred, 
who have not heard the Gospel, or the fullness 
of it.— History of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 569. 

Bible, The — I believe the Bible as it read 
when it came from the pen of the original 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 17 

writers. Ignorant translators, careless trans- 
cribers, or designing or corrupt priests have 
committed many errors. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 6, p. 57. 

Book of Mormon, What it is — The Book of 
Mormon is a record of the forefathers of our 
western tribes of Indians; having been found 
through the ministration of a holy angel, and 
translated into our own language by the gift 
and power of God, after having been hid up in 
the earth for the last fourteen hundred years, 
containing the word of God which was deliv- 
ered unto them. By it we learn that our west- 
ern tribes of Indians are descendants from that 
Joseph who was sold into Egypt, and that the 
land of America is a promised land unto them, 
and unto it all the tribes of Israel will come, 
with as many of the Gentiles as shall comply 
with the requisitions of the new covenant. — 
History of the Church, Vol. 1, p. 315. 

Book of Mormon, Keystone of our Religion 

—I told the brethren that the Book of Mor- 
mon was the most correct of any book on earth, 
and the keystone of our religion, and a man 
would get nearer to God by abiding by its pre- 
cepts, than by any other book. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 4, p. 461. 

Book of Mormon Title Page — I wish to men- 
tion here, that the title-page of the Book of 
Mormon is a literal translation, taken from the 
very last leaf, on the left hand side of the col- 



18 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

lection or book of plates, which contained the 
record which has been translated, the language 
of the whole running the same as all Hebrew 
writing in general ; and that said title-page is 
not by any means a modern composition, either 
of mine or of any other man who has lived or 
does live in this generation. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 1, p. 71. 

Book of Mormon, Words of the Angel Con- 
cerning its Translation — These plates [from 
which the Book of Mormon was translated] 
have been revealed by the power of God, and 
they have been translated by the power of God. 
The translation of them which you have seen 
is correct, and I command you to bear record 
of what you now see and hear. — History of 
the Church, Vol. 1, p. 54. 

Bishops — The Bishop is a High Priest, and 
necessarily so, because he is to preside over 
that particular branch of Church affairs, that 
is denominated the Lesser Priesthood, and be- 
cause we have no direct lineal descendant of 
Aaron, to whom it would of right belong. This 
is the same, or a branch of the same Priest- 
hood, which may be illustrated by the figure of 
the human body, which has different mem- 
bers, which have different offices to perform ; 
all are necessary in their place, and the body is 
not complete without all the members. — His- 
tory of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 477. 

Celestial Kingdom, Vision of the — The heav- 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 19 

ens were opened upon us, and I beheld the 
celestial kingdom of God, and the glory there- 
of, whether in the body or out i cannot tell. 
I saw the transcendent beauty of the gate 
through which the heirs of that kingdom will 
enter, which was like unto circling flames of 
fire; also the blazing throne of God, whereon 
was seated the Father and the Son. I saw the 
beautiful streets of that kingdom, which had 
the appearance of being paved with gold. I 
saw Fathers Adam and Abraham, and my 
father and mother, my brother, Alvin, that has 
long since slept, and marveled how it was that 
he had obtained an inheritance in that king- 
dom, seeing that he had departed this life be- 
fore the Lord had set His hand to gather Israel 
the second time, and had not been baptized for 
the remission of sins. 

Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, 
saying — 

All who have died without a knowledge of 
this Gospel, who would have received it if they 
had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of 
the celestial kingdom of God ; also all that shall 
die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who 
would have received it with all their hearts, 
shall be heirs of that kingdom, for I, the Lord, 
will judge all men according to their works, 
according to the desire of their hearts. 

And I also beheld that all children who die 
before they arrive at the years of accountabil- 
ity, are saved in the celestial kingdom of heav- 
en.— History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 380. 



20 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

Christ — See Jesus Christ. 

Christian World, Condition of — For some 
length of time I have been carefully viewing 
the state of things, as it now appears, through- 
out our Christian land ; and have looked at it 
with feelings of the most painful anxiety. 
While upon one hand I behold the manifest 
withdrawal of God's Holy Spirit, and the veil 
of stupidity which seems to be drawn over the 
hearts of the people ; upon the other hand, I be- 
hold the judgments of God that have swept, 
and are still sweeping hundreds and thousands 
of our race (and I fear unprepared) down to 
the shades of death. With this solemn and 
alarming fact before me, I am led to exclaim, 
"O that my head were waters, and mine eyes 
a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and 
night." 

I think that it is high time for a Christian 
world to awake out of sleep, and cry mightily to 
that God, day and night, whose anger we have 
justly incurred. Are not those things a suffi- 
cient stimulant to arouse the faculties, and call 
forth the energies of every man, woman or 
child that possesses feelings of sympathy for 
their fellows, or that is in any degree endeared 
to the budding cause of our glorious Lord? I 
leave an intelligent community to answer this 
important question, with a confession, that this 
is what has caused me to overlook my own in- 
ability, and expose my weakness to a learned 
world; but, trusting in that God who has said 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 21 

that these things are hid from the wise and 
prudent and revealed unto babes, I step forth 
into the field to tell you what the Lord is do- 
ing, and what you must do, to enjoy the smiles 
of your Savior in these last days. — History of 
the Church, Vol. 1, p. 312. 

Church Officers, Authority of — No official 
member of the Church has authority to go into 
any branch thereof, and ordain any minister for 
that church, unless it is by the voice of that 
branch. No Elder has authority to go into any 
branch of the Church, and appoint meetings, or 
attempt to regulate the affairs of the church, 
without the advice and consent of the presiding 
Elder of that branch. — History of the Church, 
Vol. 2, p. 220. 

Comforters, Two — There are two Comforters 
spoken of. One is the Holy Ghost, the same as 
given on the day of Pentecost, and that all 
Saints receive after faith, repentance, and bap- 
tism. This first Comforter or Holy Ghost has 
no other effect than pure intelligence. It is 
more powerful in expanding the mind, enlight- 
ening the understanding, and storing the in- 
tellect with present knowledge, of a man who 
is of the literal seed of Abraham, than one that 
is a Gentile, though it may not have half as 
much visible effect upon the body; for as the 
Holy Ghost falls upon one of the literal seed of 
Abraham, it is calm and serene ; and his whole 
soul and body are only exercised by the pure 
spirit of intelligence; while the effect of the 



22. JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is to purge out the 
old blood, and make him actually of the seed 
of Abraham. That man that has none of the 
blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a new 
creation by the Holy Ghost. In such a case, 
there may be more of a powerful effect upon 
the body, and visible to the eye, than upon an 
Israelite, while the Israelite at first might be 
far before the Gentile in pure intelligence. 

The other Comforter spoken of is a subject 
of great interest, and perhaps understood by 
few of this generation. After a person has 
faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is bap- 
tized for the remission of his sins and receives 
the Holy Ghost, (by the laying -on of hands) 
which is the first Comforter, then let him con- 
tinue to humble himself before God, hungering 
and thirsting after righteousness, and living by 
every word of God, and the Lord will soon say 
unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When 
the Lord has 1 thoroughly proved him, and finds 
that the man is determined to serve Him at all 
hazards, then the man will find his calling and 
his election made sure, then it will be his priv- 
ilege to receive the other Comforter, which the 
Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded 
in the testimony of St. John, in the 14th chap- 
ter, from the 12th to the 27th verses. 

Note the 16th, 17th, 18th, 21st, 23rd verses. 

^ ^ ;fc jjc sfc 

Now what is this other Comforter? It is no 
more nor less that the Lord Jesus Christ Him- 
self ; and this is the sum and substance of the 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 23 

whole matter; that when any man obtains this 
last Comforter, he will have the personage of 
Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him 
from time to time, and even He will manifest 
the Father unto him, and they will take up 
their abode with him, and the visions of the 
heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord 
will teach him face to face, and he may have a 
perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the King- 
dom of God ; and this is the state and place the 
ancient Saints arrived at when they had such 
glorious visions — Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon 
the Isle of Patmos, St. Paul in the three heav- 
ens, and all the Saints who held communion 
with the general assembly and Church of the 
First Born. — History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 
380. 

Condemnation in Refusing Blessings — When 
God offers a blessing or knowledge to a man, 
and he refuses to receive it, he will be damned. 
The Israelites prayed that God would speak to 
Moses and not to them; in consequence of 
which He cursed them with a carnal law. — His- 
tory of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 555. 

Constitution of the United States — The Con- 
stitution of the United States is a glorious stan- 
dard ; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is 
a heavenly banner; it is, to all those who are 
privileged with the sweets of its liberty, like 
the cooling shades and refreshing waters of a 
great rock in a thirsty and weary land. It is 
like a great tree under whose branches men 



24 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

from every clime can be shielded from the 
burning rays of the sun. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 3, p. 304. 

Constitution of the United States — Its One 
Fault — It is one of the first principles of my 
life, and one that I have cultivated from my 
childhood, having been taught it by my father, 
to allow every one the liberty of conscience. I 
am the greatest advocate of the Constitution of 
the United States there is on the earth. In my 
feelings I am always ready to die for the pro- 
tection of the weak and oppressed in their just 
rights. The only fault I find with the Consti- 
tution is, it is not broad enough to cover the 
whole ground. 

Although it provides that all men shall enjoy 
religious freedom, yet it does not provide the 
manner by which that freedom can be pre- 
served, nor the punishment of Government of- 
ficers who refuse to protect the people in their 
religious rights, or punish those mobs, states, 
or communities who interfere with the rights of 
the people on account of their religion. Its 
sentiments are good, but it provides no means 
of enforcing them. It has but this one fault. 
Under its provision, a man or a people who are 
able to protect themselves can get along well 
enough ; but those who have the misfortune to 
be weak or unpopular are left to the merciless 
rage of popular fury. 

The Constitution should contain a provision 
that every officer of the Government who 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 25 

should neglect or refuse to extend the protec- 
tion guaranteed in the Constituiton should be 
subject to capital punishment; and then the 
president of the United States would not say, 
"Your cause is just, but I can do nothing for 
you/' a governor issue exterminating orders, 
or judges say, "The men ought to have the 
protection of law, but it won't please the mob ; 
the men must die, anyhow, to satisfy the clamor 
of the rabble; they must be hung, or Missouri 
be damned to all eternity." Executive writs 
could be issued when they ought to be and not 
be made instruments of cruelty to oppress the 
innocent, and persecute men whose religion is 
unpopular. — History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 
56. 

Councils, Order in — But to return to the sub- 
ject of order; in ancient days councils were con- 
ducted with such strict propriety, that no one 
was allowed to whisper, be weary, leave the 
room, or get uneasy in the least, until the voice 
of the Lord, by revelation, or the voice of the 
council by the Spirit, was obtained, which has 
not been observed in this Church to the present 
time. It was understood in ancient days, that 
if one man could stay in council, another could ; 
and if the president could spend his time, the 
members could also; but in our councils, gener- 
ally, one will be uneasy, another asleep; one 
praying, another not; one's mind on the busi- 
ness of the council, and another thinking on 
something else. — History of the Church, Vol. 
2, p. 25. 



26 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

Creeds, Denominational — I cannot believe in 
any of the creeds of the different denomina- 
tions, because they all have some things in 
them I cannot subscribe to, though all of them 
have some truth. I want to come up into the 
presence of God, and learn all things; but the 
creeds set up stakes and say, "Hitherto shalt 
thou come, and no further/' which I cannot 
subscribe to. — History of the Church, Vol. 6, 
p. 57. 

Debating, Advice on — When we arrived, 
some of the young Elders were about engaging 
in a debate on the subject of miracles. The 
question — "Was it, or was it not, the design of 
Christ to establish His Gospel by miracles?" 
After an interesting debate of three hours or 
more, during which time much talent was dis- 
played, it was decided, by the President of the 
debate, in the negative, which was a righteous 
decision. 

I discovered in this debate, much warmth 
displayed, too much zeal for mastery, too much 
of that enthusiasm that characterizes a lawyer 
at the bar, who is determined to defend his 
cause, right or wrong. I therefore availed my- 
self of this favorable opportunity to drop a 
few words upon this subject, by way of ad- 
vice, that they might improve their minds and 
cultivate their powers of intellect in a proper 
manner, that they might not incur the displeas- 
ure of heaven ; that they should handle sacred 
things very sacredly, and with due deference to 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 27 

the opinions of others, and with an eye single 
to the glory of God. — History of the Church, 
Vol 2, p. 317. 

Earth When Sanctified — While at dinner, I 
remarked to my family and friends present, 
that when the earth was sanctified and became 
like a sea of glass, it would be one great urim 
and thummim, and the Saints could look in it 
and see as they are seen. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 5, p. 279. 

Elias, Elijah, Messiah, Spirit of — There is a 
difference between the spirit and office of Elias 
and Elijah. It is the spirit of Elias I wish first 
to speak of; and in order to come at the sub- 
ject, I will bring some of the testimony from 
the Scripture and give my own. 

In the first place, suffice it to say, I went into 
the woods to inquire of the Lord, by prayer, 
His will concerning me, and I saw an angel, 
and he laid his hands upon my head, and or- 
dained me to a Priest after the order of Aa- 
ron, and to hold the keys of this Priesthood, 
which office was to preach repentance and bap- 
tism for the remission of sins, and also to bap- 
tize. But I was informed that this office did 
not extend to the laying on of hands for the 
giving of the Holy Ghost ; that that office was 
a greater work, and was to be given after- 
ward; but that my ordination was a prepara- 
tory work, or a going before, which was the 
spirit of Elias ; for the spirit of Elias was a go- 
ing before to prepare the way for the greater, 



28 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

which was the case with John the Baptist. He 
came crying through the wilderness, "Prepare 
ye the way of the Lord, make his paths 
straight." And they were informed, if they 
could receive it, it was the spirit of Elias ; and 
John was very particular to tell 1 the people, he 
was not that Light, but was sent to bear wit- 
ness of that Light. 

He told the people that his mission was to 
preach repentance and baptize with water ; but 
it was He that should come after him that 
should baptize with fire and the Holy Ghost. 

If he had been an imposter, he might have 
gone to work beyond his bounds, and under- 
took to have performed ordinances which did 
not belong to that office and calling, under the 
spirit of Elias. 

The spirit of Elias is to prepare the way for a 
greater revelation of God, which is the Priest- 
hood of Elias, or the Priesthood that Aaron was 
ordained unto. And when God sends a man 
into the world to prepare for a greater work, 
holding the keys of the power of Elias, it was 
called the doctrine of Elias, even from the 
early ages of the world. 

John's mission was limited to preaching and 
baptizing; but what he did was legal; and 
when Jesus Christ came to any of John's dis- 
ciples, He baptized them with fire and the 
Holy Ghost. 

We find the apostles endowed with greater 
power than John : their office was more under 
the spirit and power of Elijah than Elias. 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 29 

In the case of Phillip when he went down to 
Samaria, when he was under the spirit of Elias, 
he baptized both men and women. When 
Peter and John heard of it, they went down and 
laid hands upon them, and they received the 
Holy Ghost. This shows the distinction be- 
tween the two powers. 

When Paul came to certain disciples, he 
asked if they had received the Holy Ghost? 
They said, No. Who baptized you, then? We 
were baptized unto John's baptism. No, you 
were not baptized unto John's baptism, or you 
would have been baptized by John. And so 
Paul went and baptized them, for he knew 
what the true doctrine was, and he knew that 
John had not baptized them. And these prin- 
ciples are strange to me, that men who have 
read the Scriptures of the New Testament are 
so far from it. 

What I want to impress upon your minds 
is the difference of power in the different parts 
of the Priesthood, so that when any man comes 
among you, saying, "I have the spirit of Ellas/' 
you can know whether he be true or false; for 
any man that comes, having the spirit and 
power of Elias, he will not transcend his 
bounds. 

John did not transcend his bounds, but faith- 
fully performed that part belonging to his of- 
fice; and every portion of the great building 
should be prepared right and assigned to its 
proper place ; and it is necessary to know who 



30 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

holds the keys of power, and who does not, or 
we may be likely to be deceived. 

That person who holds the keys of Elias hath 
a preparatory work. 

This is the Elias spoken of in the last days, 
and here is the rock upon which many split, 
thinking the time was past in the days of John 
and Christ, and no more to be. But the spirit 
of Elias was revealed to me, and I know it is 
true; therefore I speak with boldness, for I 
know verily my doctrine is true. 

Now for Elijah. The spirit, power, and call- 
ing of Elijah is, that ye have power to hold 
the key of the revelation, ordinances, oracles, 
powers and endowments of the fullness of the 
Melchisedec Priesthood and of the kingdom of 
God on the earth ; and to receive, obtain, and 
perform all the ordinances belonging to the 
kingdom of God, even unto the turning of the 
hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the 
hearts of the children unto the fathers, even 
those who are in heaven. 

Malachi says, "I will send you Elijah the 
prophet before the coming of the great and 
dreadful day of the Lord : and he shall turn the 
heart of the fathers to the children, and the 
heart of the children to their fathers,, lest I 
come and smite the earth with a curse." 

Now, what I am after is the knowledge of 
God, and I take my own course to obtain it. 
What are we to understand by this in the last 
days? 

In the days of Noah, God destroyed the 



Joseph smith's teachings. 31 

world by a flood, and He has promised to de- 
stroy it by fire in the last days : but before it 
should take place, Elijah should first come and 
turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, 
&c. 

Now comes the point. What is this office 
and work of Elijah? It is one of the greatest 
and most important subjects that God has re- 
vealed. He should send Elijah to seal the chil- 
dren to the fathers, and the fathers to the chil- 
dren. 

Now was this merely confined to the living, 
to settle difficulties with families on earth? 
By no means. It was a far greater work. Eli- 
jah ! what would you do if you were here? 
Would you confine your work to the living 
alone? No; I would refer you to the Scrip- 
tures, where the subject is manifest : that is, 
without us, they could not be made perfect, 
nor we without them ; the fathers without the 
children, nor the children without the fathers. 

I wish you to understand this subject, for it 
is important; and if you will receive it, this is 
the spirit of Elijah, that we redeem our dead, 
and connect ourselves with our fathers which 
are in heaven, and seal up our dead to come 
forth in the first resurrection; and here we 
want the power of Elijah to seal those who 
dwell on earth to those who dwell in heaven. 
This is the power of Elijah and the keys of 
the kingdom of Jehovah. 

Let us suppose a case. Suppose the great 
God who dwells in heaven should reveal Him- 



32 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

self to Father Cutler here, by the opening 
heavens, and tell him, "I offer tip a decree that 
whatsoever you seal on earth with your decree, 
I will' seal it in heaven ; you have the power 
then ; can it be taken off? No. Then what you 
seal on earth, by the keys of Elijah, is sealed 
in heaven ; and this is the power of Elijah, and 
this is the difference between the spirit and 
power of Elias and Elijah; for while the spirit 
of Elias is a forerunner, the power of Elijah 
is sufficient to make our calling and election 
sure ; and the same doctrine, where we are ex- 
horted to go on to perfection, not laying again 
the foundation of repentance from dead works, 
and of laying on of hands, resurrection of the 
dead, &c. 

We cannot be perfect without the fathers, 
&c. We must have revelation from them, and 
we can see that the doctrine of revelation far 
transcends the doctrine of no revelation ; for 
one truth revealed from heaven is worth all the 
sectarian notions in existence. 

This spirit of Elijah was manifest in the 
days of the apostles, in delivering certain ones 
to the bufferings of Satan, that they might be 
saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. They 
were sealed by the spirit of Elijah unto the 
damnation of hell until the day of the Lord, 
or revelation of Jesus Christ. 

Here is the doctrine of election that the 
world has quarreled so much about; but they 
do not know anything about it. 

The doctrine that the Presbyterians and 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 33 

Methodists have quarreled so much about — 
once in grace, always in grace, or falling away 
from grace, I will say a word about. They are 
both wrong. Truth takes a road between them 
both, for while the Presbyterian says "once in 
grace, you cannot fall ;" the Methodist says : 
"You can have grace to day, fall from it to- 
morrow, next day have grace again ; and so fol- 
low on, changing continually." But the doc- 
trine of the Scriptures and the spirit of Elijah 
would show them both false, and take a road 
between them both ; for, according to the 
Scripture, if men have recived the good word 
of God, and tasted of the powers of the world 
to come, if they shall fall away, it is impos- 
sible to renew them again, seeing they have 
cnicified the Son of God afresh, and put Him 
to an open shame ; so there is a possibility of 
falling away ; you could not be renewed again, 
and the power of Elijah cannot seal against 
this sin, for this is a reserve made in the seals 
and power of the Priesthood. * * * 

A murderer, for instance, one that sheds in- 
nocent blood, cannot have forgiveness. David 
sought repentance at the hand of God carefully 
with tears, for the murder of Uriah; but he 
could only get it through hell ; he got a prom- 
ise that his soul should not be left in hell. 

Although David was a king, he never did 
obtain the spirit and power of Elijah and the 
fullness of the Priesthood ; and the Priesthood 
that he received, and the throne and kingdom 
of David is to be taken from him and given 



34 Joseph smith's teachings. 

to another by the name of David in the last 
days, raised up out of his lineage. 

Peter referred to the same subject on the 
day of Pentecost, but the multitude did not get 
the endowment that Peter had; but several 
days after, the people asked "What shall we 
do?" Peter says, "I would ye had done it ig- 
norantly," speaking of crucifying the Lord, &c. 
He did not say to them, "Repent and be bap- 
tized, for the remission of your sins;" but he 
said, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, 
that your sins may be blotted out, when the 
times of refreshing shall come from the pres- 
ence of the Lord." (Acts 3 :19.) 

This is the case with murderers. They could 
not be baptized for the remission of sins for 
they had shed innocent blood. 

Again: The doctrine or sealing power of 
Elijah is as follows : — if you have power to 
seal on earth and in heaven, then we should be 
wise. The first thing you do, go and seal on 
earth your sons and daughters unto yourself, 
and yourself unto your fathers in eternal glory. 
* * *- j w iu W alk through the gate of heav- 
en and claim what I seal, and those that fol- 
low me and my counsel. 

The spirit of Elias is first, Elijah second, and 
Messiah last. Elias is a forerunner to prepare 
the way, and the spirit and power of Elijah is 
to come after, holding the keys of power, build- 
ing the Temple to the capstone, placing the 
seals of the Melchisedec Priesthood upon the 
house of Israel, and making all things ready; 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 35 

then Messiah comes to His Temple, which is 
last of all. 

Messiah is above the spirit and power of 
Elijah, for He made the world, and was that 
spiritual rock unto Moses in the wilderness. 
Elijah was to come and prepare the way and 
build up the kingdom before the coming of the 
great day of the Lord, although the spirit of 
Elias might begin it. — History of the Church, 
Vol. 6, p. 249. 

Election — He then spoke on the subject of 
election, and read the 9th chapter of Romans, 
from which it is evident that the election there 
spoken of was pertaining to the flesh, and had 
reference to the seed of Abraham, according 
to the promise of God made to Abraham, say- 
ing, "In thee, and in thy seed, all the families 
of the earth shall be blessed." To them be- 
longed the adoption and the covenants, &c. 
Paul said, when he saw their unbelief, "I wish 
myself accursed" — according to the flesh — not 
according to the spirit. Why did God say to 
Pharaoh, "For this cause have I raised thee 
up"? Because Pharaoh was a fit instrument — 
a wicked man, and had committed acts of cru- 
elty of the most atrocious nature. The election 
of the promised seed still continues, and in the 
last day, they shall have the Priesthood re- 
stored unto them, and they shall be the "saviors 
on Mount Zion," the ministers of our God; if 
it were not for the remnant which was left, 
then might men now be as Sodom and Gomor- 
rah. The whole of the chapter had reference to 



36 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

the Priesthood and the house of Israel; and 
unconditional election of individuals to eternal 
life was not taught by the Apostles. God did 
elect or predestinate, that all those who would 
be saved, should be saved in Christ Jesus, and 
through obedience to the Gospel : but He passes 
over no man's sins, but visits them with cor- 
rection, and if His children will not repent 
of their sins He will discard them. — History of 
the Church, Vol. 4, p. 359. 

End of the World, Meaning of— The end of 

the world is the destruction of the wicked, the 
harvest and the end of the world have an al- 
lusion directly to the human family in the last 
days, instead of the earth, as many have im- 
agined ; and that which shall precede the com- 
ing of the Son of Man, and the restitution of 
all things spoken of by the mouth of a,ll 
the holy prophets since the world began; 
and the angels are to have something to 
do in this great work, for they are the reap- 
ers. As, therefore, the tares are gathered 
and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end 
of the world ; that is, as the servants of God go 
forth warning the nations, both priests and 
people, and as they harden their hearts and re- 
ject the light of truth, these first being deliv- 
ered over to the bufferings of Satan, and the 
law and the testimony being closed up, as it 
was in the case of the Jews, they are left in 
darkness, and delivered over unto the day of 
burning; thus being bound up by their creeds, 
and their bands being made strong by their 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 37 

priests, are prepared for the fulfillment of the 
saying of the Savior — "The Son of Man shall 
send forth His angels, and gather out of His 
Kingdom all things that offend, and them 
which do iniquity, and shall cast them into a 
furnace of fire, there shall be wailing and 
gnashing of teeth. " — History of the Church, 
Vol. 2, p. 271. 

Evangelist — An Evangelist is a Patriarch, 
even the oldest man of the blood of Joseph or 
of the seed of Abraham. Wherever the Church 
of Christ is established in the earth, there 
should be a Patriarch for the benefit of the 
posterity of the Saints, as it was with Jacob 
in giving his patriarchal blessing unto his sons, 
&c. — History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 381. 

Evil, Individual Responsibility for — He com- 
menced his observations by remarking that the 
kindness of our Heavenly Father called for our 
heartfelt gratitude. He then observed that 
Satan was generally blamed for the evils which 
we did, but if he was the cause of all our wick- 
edness, men could not be condemned. The 
devil could not compel mankind to do evil; all 
was voluntary. Those who resisted the Spirit 
of God, would be liable to be led into tempta- 
tion, and then the association of heaven would 
be withdrawn from those who refused to be 
made partakers of such great glory. God 
would not exert any compulsory means, and 
the devil could not; and such ideas as were 
entertained [on these subjects] by many were 



38 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

absurd. The creature was made subject to 
vanity, not willingly, but Christ subjected the 
same in hope — all are subjected to vanity while 
they travel through the crooked paths and diffi- 
culties which surround them. Where is the 
man that is free from vanity? None ever were 
perfect but Jesus; and why was He perfect? 
Because He was the Son of God, and had the 
fullness of the Spirit, and greater power than 
any man. But notwithstanding their vanity, 
men look forward with hope (because they are 
"subjected in hope") 1 to the time of their de- 
liverance. — History of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 
358. 

Faith — See Articles of Faith. 

Faith, How it Gomes — Faith comes by hear- 
ing the word of God, through the testimony 
of the servants of God ; that testimony is al- 
ways attended by the spirit of prophecy and 
revelation. — History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 
379. 

Faith and its Fruits — Faith comes by hear- 
ing the word of God. If a man has not faith 
enough to do one thing, he may have faith to do 
another: if he cannot remove a mountain, he 
may heal the sick. Where faith is there will 
be some of the fruits : all gifts and power 
which were sent from heaven, were poured out 
on the heads of those who had faith. — History 
of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 355. 

Faith and Spiritual Gifts — Because faith is 
wanting, the fruits are. No man since the 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 39 

world was had faith without having something 
along with it. The ancients quenched the vio- 
lence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, 
women received their dead, &c. By faith the 
worlds were made. A man who has none of 
the gifts has no faith ; and he deceives himself, 
if he supposes he has. Faith has been want- 
ing, not only among the heathen, but in pro- 
fessed Christendom also, so that tongues, heal- 
ings, prophecy, and prophets and apostles, and 
all the gifts and blessings have been wanting. 
— History of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 218. 

Freedom of Belief — I want the liberty of 
thinking and believing as I please. It feels so 
good not to be trammelled. It does not prove 
that a man is not a good man because he errs 
in doctrine. — History of the Church, Vol. 5, 
p. 340. 

Gathering of Israel, Preparations for — Pes- 
tilence, hail, famine, and earthquake will sweep 
the wicked of this generation from off. the face 
of the land, to open and prepare the way for 
the return of the lost tribes of Israel from the 
north country. The people of the Lord, those 
who have complied with the requirements of 
the new covenant, have already commenced 
gathering together to Zion, which is in the state 
of Missouri ; therefore I declare unto you the 
warning which the Lord has commanded me 
to declare unto this generation, remembering 
that the eyes of my Maker are upon me, and 
that to Him I am accountable for every word 



40 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

I say, wishing nothing worse to my fellow- 
men than their eternal salvation; therefore, 
"Fear God, and give glory to Him, for the hour 
of His judgment is come." Repent ye, repent 
ye, and embrace the everlasting covenant, and 
flee to Zion, before the overflowing scourge 
overtake you, for there are those now living 
upon the earth whose eyes shall not be closed 
in death until they see all these things, which 
I have spoken, fulfilled. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 1, p. 315. 

Gathering of Israel, The Time of — The time 
has at last arrived when the God of Abraham, 
of Isaac, and of Jacob, has set His hand again 
the second time to recover the remnants of His 
people, which have been left from Assyria, and 
from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, 
and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from 
Hamath, and from the islands of the sea, and 
with them to bring in the fullness of the Gen- 
tiles, and establish that covenant with them, 
which was promised when their sins should be 
taken away. See Isaiah 11; Romans 11:25, 26 
and 27, and also Jeremiah 31 : 31, 32 and 33. 
This covenant has never been established with 
the house of Israel, nor with the house of Ju- 
dah, for it requires two parties to make a cove- 
nant, and those two parties must be agreed, 
or no covenant can be made. 

Christ, in the days of His flesh, proposed to 
make a covenant with them, but they rejected 
Him and His proposals, and' in consequence 



Joseph smith's teachings. 41 

thereof, they were broken off, and no covenant 
was made with them at that time. But their 
unbelief has not rendered the promise of God 
of none effect; no, for there was another day 
limited in David, which was the day of .His 
power; and then His people, Israel, should be 
a w T illing people ; — and He would write His law 
in their hearts, and print it in their thoughts ; 
their sins and their iniquities He would remem- 
ber no more. — History of the Church, Vol. 1, 
p. 313. 

Gathering of Israel, Purpose of — This subject 
was presented to me since I came to the stand. 
What was the object of gathering the Jews, or 
the people of God in any age of the world? I 
can never find much to say in expounding a 
text. A man never has half so much fuss to 
unlock a door, if he has a key, as though he had 
not, and had to cut it open with his jack-knife. 

The main object was to build unto the Lord a 
house whereby He could reveal unto His people 
the ordinances of His house and the glories of 
His kingdom, and teach the people the way of 
salvation ; for there are certain ordinances and 
principles that when they are taught and prac- 
ticed, must be done in a place or house built for 
that purpose. 

It was the design of the councils of heaven 
before the world was, that the principles and 
laws of the priesthood should be predicated 
upon the gathering of the people in every age 
of the world. Jesus did everything to gather 



42 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

the people, and they would not be gathered, and 
He therefore poured out curses upon them. Or- 
dinances instituted in the heavens before the 
foundation of the world, in the priesthood, for 
the salvation of men, are not to be altered or 
changed. All must be saved on the same prin- 
ciples. 

It is for the same purpose that God gathers 
together His people in the last days, to build 
unto the Lord a house to prepare them for the 
ordinances and endowments, washings and 
anointings, &c. One of the ordinances of the 
house of the Lord is baptism for the dead. God 
decreed before the foundation of the world that 
that ordinance should be administered in a font 
prepared for that purpose in the house of the 
Lord. "This is only your opinion, sir," says the 
sectarian. * * * 

If a man gets a fullness of the priesthood of 
God, he has to get it in the same way that 
Jesus Christ obtained it, and that was by keep- 
ing all the commandments and obeying all the 
ordinances of the house of the Lord. 

Where there is no change of priesthood, there 
is no change of ordinances, says Paul, if God 
has not changed the ordinances and the priest- 
hood. Howl, ye sectarians ! If he has, when 
and where has He revealed it? Have ye turned 
revelators? Then why deny revelation? * * 

The doctrine of baptism for the dead is clear- 
ly shown in the New Testament; and if the 
doctrine is not good, then throw the New Tes- 
tament away ; but if it is the word of God, then 



Joseph smith's teachings. 43 

let the doctrine be acknowledged; and it was 
the reason why Jesus said unto the Jews, "How 
oft would I have gathered thy children to- 
gether, even as a hen gathereth her chickens un- 
der her wings, and ye would not!" — that they 
might attend to the ordinances of baptism for 
the dead as well as other ordinances of the 
priesthood, and receive revelations from heav- 
en, and be perfected in the things of the king- 
dom of God — but they would not. This was 
the case on the day of Pentecost: those bless- 
ings were poured out on the disciples on that 
occasion. God ordained that He would save 
the dead, and would do it by gathering His peo- 
ple together. — History of the Church, Vol. 5, 
p. 423. 

Gathering of Saints in Last Days — All that 
the prophets have written, from the days 
of righteous Abel, down to the last man that 
has left any testimony on record for our con- 
sideration, in speaking of the salvation of Is- 
rael in the last days, goes directly to show that 
it consists in the work of the gathering. 

First, I shall begin by quoting from the 
prophecy of Enoch, speaking of the last days : 
"Righteousness will I send down out of heav- 
en, and truth will I send forth out of the earth, 
to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten, His 
resurrection from the dead (this resurrection I 
understand to be the corporeal body) ; yea, and 
also the resurrection of all men ; righteousness 
and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as 
with a flood, to gather out mine own elect from 



44 joseph smith's TEACHINGS. 

the four quarters of the earth, unto a place 
which I shall prepare, a holy city, that my peo- 
ple may gird up their loins, and be looking 
forth for the time of my coming, for there shall 
be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, 
a new Jerusalem. " (Pearl of Great Price, ch. 
7:62, 1902 edition.) 

Now I understand by this quotation, that 
God clearly manifested to Enoch the redemp- 
tion which He prepared, by offering the Mes- 
siah as a Lamb slain from before the founda- 
tion of the world; and by virtue of the same, 
the glorious resurrection of the Savior, and the 
resurrection of all the human family, even a 
resurrection of their corporeal bodies, is 
brought to pass ; and also righteousness and 
truth are to sweep the earth as with a flood. 
And now, I ask, how righteousness and truth 
are going to sweep the earth as with a flood? 
I will answer. Men and angels are to be co- 
workers in bringing to pass this great work, 
and Zion is to be prepared, even a New Jeru- 
salem, for the elect that are to be gathered from 
the four quarters of the earth, and to be es- 
tablished a holy city, for the tabernacle of the 
Lord shall be with them. 

Now Enoch was in good company in his 
views upon this subject: "And I heard a great 
voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the taber- 
nacle of God is with men, and He will dwell 
with them, and they shall be His people and 
God Himself shall be with them, and be their 
God." (Revelation 21 :3.) 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 45 

I discover by this quotation, that John upon 
the isle of Patmos, saw the same things con- 
cerning the last days, which Enoch saw. But 
before the tabernacle can be with men, the elect 
must be gathered from the four quarters of 
the earth. And to show further upon this sub- 
ject of the gathering, Moses, after having pro- 
nounced the blessing and cursing upon the 
children of Israel, for their obedience or dis- 
obedience, says thus : 

"And it shall come to pass, when all these 
things are come upon thee, the blessing and the 
curse which I have set before thee, and thou 
shalt call them to mind, among all the nations 
whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee, and 
shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt 
obey His voice, according to all that I com- 
mand thee, .this day, thou and thy children, 
with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, then 
the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and 
have compassion upon thee, and will return 
and gather thee from all the nations whither 
the Lord thy God hath scattered thee. If any 
of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of 
heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God 
gather thee, and from thence will He fetch 
thee." (Deut. 30:1-4.) 

It has been said by many of the learned and 
wise men, or historians, that the Indians or ab- 
origines of this continent, are of the scattered 
tribes of Israel. It has been conjectured by 
many others, that the aborigines of this conti- 
nent are not of the tribes of Israel, but the ten 



46 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

tribes have been led away into some unknown 
regions of the north. Let this be as it may, 
the prophecy I have just quoted "will fetch 
them/' in the last days, and place them in the 
land which their fathers possessed. And you 
will find in the 7th verse of the 30th chapter, 
quoted, "And the Lord thy God will put all 
these curses upon thine enemies, and on them 
that hate thee, which persecuted thee." 

Many may say that this scripture is fulfilled, 
but let them mark carefully what the prophet 
says: "If any are driven out unto the utmost 
parts of heaven," (which must mean the 
breadth of the earth). Now this promise is 
good to any, if there should be such, that are 
driven out, even in the last days, therefore, the 
children of the fathers have claim unto this day. 
And if these curses are to be laid over on the 
heads of their enemies, woe be unto the Gen- 
tiles. (See Book of Mormon, III Nephi, ch. 
16, current edition.) "Woe unto the unbeliev- 
ing of the Gentiles, saith the Father." And 
again, (see Book of Mormon, III Nephi 20:22, 
current edition, which says), "Behold this peo- 
ple will I establish in this land, unto the fulfill- 
ing of the covenant which I made with your 
father Jacob, and it shall be a New Jerusalem." 
Now we learn from the Book of Mormon the 
very identical continent and spot of land upon 
which the New Jerusalem is to stand, and it 
must be caught up according to the vision of 
John upon the isle of Patmos. 

Now many will feel disposed to say, that this 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 47 

New Jerusalem spoken of, is the Jerusalem that 
was built by the Jews on the eastern conti- 
nent. But you will see, from Revelation 21 :2, 
there was a New Jerusalem coming down from 
God out of heaven, adorned as a bride for her 
husband; that after this, the Revelator was 
caught away in the Spirit, to a great and high 
mountain, and saw the great and holy city de- 
scending out of heaven from God. Now there 
are two cities spoken of here. As everything 
cannot be had in so narrow a compass as a 
letter, I shall say with brevity, that there is a 
New Jerusalem to be established on this conti- 
nent, and also Jerusalem shall be rebuilt on the 
eastern continent (see Book of Mormon, Ether 
13:1-12). "Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, 
and he spake also concerning the house of Is- 
rael, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi 
should come; after it should be destroyed, it 
should be built up again, a holy city unto the 
Lord, wherefore it could not be a New Jeru- 
salem, for it had been in a time of old." This 
may suffice, upon the subject of gathering, un- 
til my next. — History of the Church, Vol. 2, 
p. 260. 

Gentiles Grafted in — Thus after this chosen 
family had rejected Christ and His proposals, 
the heralds of salvation said to them, "Lo we 
turn unto the Gentiles ;- and the Gentiles re- 
ceived the covenant, and were grafted in from 
whence the chosen family were broken off : but 
the Gentiles have not continued in the good- 



48 JOSEPH SMITH S TEACHINGS. 

ness of God, but have departed from the faith 
that was once delivered to the Saints, and 
have broken the covenant in which their fath- 
ers were established (see Isaiah 24:5); and 
have become high-minded, and have not feared ; 
therefore, but few of them will be gathered 
with the chosen family. Have not the pride, 
high-mindedness, and unbelief of the Gentiles, 
provoked the Holy One of Israel to withdraw 
His Holy Spirit from them, and send forth 
His judgments to scourge them for their wick- 
edness? This is certainly the case. 

Christ said to His disciples (Mark 16:17 and 
18), that these signs should follow them that 
believe : — "In my name shall they cast out 
devils ; they shall speak with new tongues ; 
they shall take up serpents; and if they drink 
any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them ; they . 
shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall re- 
cover ;" and also, in connection with this, read 
I Corinthians, 12th chapter. By the forego- 
ing testimonies we may look at the Christian 
world and see the apostasy there has been from 
the apostolic platform ; and can we look at this 
and not exclaim, in the language of Isaiah, 
"The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants 
thereof; because they have transgressed the 
laws, changed the ordinances, and broken the 
everlasting covenant"? 

The plain fact is this, the power of God be- 
gins to fall upon the nations, and the light of 
the latter-day glory begins to break forth 
through the dark atmosphere of sectarian wick- 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 49 

edness, and their iniquity rolls up into view, 
and the nations of the Gentiles are like the 
waves of the sea, casting up mire and dirt, or 
all in commotion, and they are hastily prepar- 
ing to act the part allotted them, when the Lord 
rebukes the nations, when He shall rule them 
with a rod of iron, and break them in pieces like 
a potter's vessel. — History of the Church, Vol. 
1, p. 313. 

Gift of the Holy Ghost— See Holy Ghost. 

Gift of Tongues — Be not so curious about 
tongues ; do not speak in tongues except there 
be an interpreter present; the ultimate design 
of tongues is to speak to foreigners, and if 
persons are very anxious to display their in- 
telligence, let them speak to such in their own 
tongues. The gifts of God are all useful in 
their places, but when they are applied to that 
which God does not intend, they prove an in- 
jury, a snare and a curse instead of a bless- 
ing. — History of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 31. 

Speak not in the gift of tongues without un- 
derstanding it, or without interpretation. The 
devil can speak in tongues ; the adversary will 
come with his work : he can ternpt all classes ; 
can speak in English or Dutch. Let no one 
speak in tongues unless he interpret, except by 
the consent of the one who is placed to pre- 
side; then he may discern or interpret or an- 
other may. — History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 
392. 

Gift of Tongues, to be Exercised with Care— 



50 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

As to the gift of tongues, all we can say is, that 
in this place, we have received it as the ancients 
did: we wish you, however, to be careful, lest 
in this you be deceived. Guard against evils 
which may arise from any accounts given by 
women, or otherwise; be careful in all things 
lest any root of bitterness spring up among 
you, and thereby many be defiled. Satan will 
no doubt trouble you about the gift of tongues 
unless you are careful; you cannot watch him 
too closely, nor pray too much. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 1, p. 369. 

Gift of Tongues, Purpose of — I read the 13th 
chapter of First Corinthians, also a part of the 
14th chapter, and remarked that the gift of 
tongues was necessary in the Church ; but that 
if Satan could not speak in tongues, he could 
not tempt a Dutchman, or any other nation, 
but the English, for he can tempt the English- 
man, for he has tempted me, and I am an Eng- 
lishman ; but the gift of tongues by the power 
of the Holy Ghost in the Church, is for the 
benefit of the servants of God to preach to un- 
believers, as on the day of Pentecost. When 
devout men from every nation shall assemble 
to hear the things of God, let the Elders preach 
to them in their own mother tongue, whether 
it is German, French, Spanish or "Irish," or 
any other, and let those interpret who under- 
stand the language spoken, in their own 
mother tongue, and this is what the Apostle 
meant in First Corinthians 14:27. — History of 
the Church, Vol. 4, p. 485. 






JOSEPH smith's teachings. 51 

President Joseph Smith then gave an ex- 
planation of the gift of tongues, that it was par- 
ticularly instituted for the preaching of the 
Gospel to other nations and languages, but it 
was not given for the government of the 
Church. 

He further said, if Brother Gordon intro- 
duced the gift of tongues as a testimony 
against Brother Carpenter, it was contrary to 
the rules and regulations of the Church, be- 
cause in all our decisions, we must judge from 
actual testimony. * * * 

President Smith advised that we speak in 
our own language in all such matters, and 
then the adversary cannot lead out minds 
astray. — History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 162. 

Tongues were given for the purpose of 
preaching among those whose language is not 
understood ; as on the day of Pentecost, etc., 
and it is not necessary for tongues to be 
taught in the Church particularly, for any man 
that has the Holy Ghost, can speak of the 
things of God in his own tongue as well as 
to speak in another; for faith comes not by 
signs, but by hearing the word of God. — His- 
tory of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 379. 

Glory, Degrees of, in Eternal World — From 
sundry revelations which had been received, it 
was apparent that many important points 
touching the salvation of man, had been taken 
from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. 
It appeared self-evident from what truths were 
left, that if God rewarded every one accord- 



52 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

ing to the deeds done in the body the term 
"Heaven" as intended for the Saints' eternal 
home, must include more kingdoms than one. 
Accordingly, on the 16th of February, 1832, 
while translating St. John's Gospel, myself and 
Elder Rigdon saw the following vision : [Vision 
of the Glories, Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 
76].— History of the Church, Vol. 1, p. 245. 

Glory, Prophet's Views on the Revelation on 
the Degrees of — Nothing could be more pleas- 
ing to the Saints upon the order of the King- 
dom of the Lord, than the light which burst 
upon the world through the foregoing vision. 
[The vision of the Glories, Doctrine and Cove- 
nants, Sec. 76.] Every law, every command- 
ment, every promise, every truth, and every 
point touching the destiny of man, from Gen- 
esis to Revelation, where the purity of the 
Scriptures remains unsullied by the folly of 
men, go to show the perfection of the the- 
ory [of different degrees of glory in the future 
life] and witnesses the fact that that docu- 
ment is a transcript from the records of the 
eternal world. The sublimity of the ideas; 
the purity of the language; the scope for ac- 
tion; the continued duration for completion, 
in order that the heirs of salvation may con- 
fess the Lord and bow the knee ; the rewards 
for faithfulness, and the punishments for sins, 
are so much beyond the narrow-mindedness of 
men, that every honest man is constrained to 
exclaim : "It came from God."— History of the 
Church, Vol 1, p. 252. 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 53 

God, Coming in Presence of — It is a great 
thing to inquire at the hands of God, or to 
come into His presence ; and we feel fearful 
to approach Him on subjects that are of little 
or no consequence, to satisfy the queries of in- 
dividuals, especially about things the knowl- 
edge of which men ought to obtain in all sin- 
cerity, before God, for themselves, in humil- 
ity by the prayer of faith ; and more espe- 
cially a Teacher or a High Priest in the Church. 
I speak these things not by way of reproach, 
but by way of instruction. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 1, p. 339. 

God's Promises not to be Trifled with — Mar- 
tin Harris having boasted to the brethren that 
he could handle snakes with perfect safety, 
while fooling with a black snake with his bare 
feet, he received a bite on his left foot. The 
fact was communicated to me, and I took oc- 
casion to reprove him, and exhort the brethren 
never to trifle with the promises of God. I 
told them it was presumption for any one to 
provoke a serpent to bite him, but if a man of 
God was accidentally bitten by a poisonous ser- 
pent, he might have faith, or his brethren might 
have faith for him, so that the Lord would hear 
his prayer and he might be healed ; but when a 
man designedly provokes a serpent to bite him, 
the principle is the same as when a man drinks 
deadly poison, knowing it to be such. In that 
case no man has any claim on the promises of 
God to be healed. — History of the Church, Vol. 
2, p. 95. 



54 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

God's Kingdom — See Kingdom of God. 

Gods, Plurality of — I have always declared 
God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a 
separate and distinct personage from God the 
Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct 
personage and a Spirit: and these three con- 
stitute three distinct personages and three 
Gods. If this is in accordance with the New 
Testament, lo and behold! we have three Gods 
anyhow, and they are plural ; and who can con- 
tradict it? 

Our text says, "And hath made us kings and 
priests unto God and His Father." The Apos- 
tles have discovered that there were Gods above, 
for Paul says God was the Father of our Lord 
Jesus Christ. My object was to preach the 
scriptures, and preach the doctrine they con- 
tain, there being a God above, the Father of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. I am bold to declare I 
have taught all the strong doctrines publicly, 
and always teach stronger doctrines in public 
than in private. 

John was one of the men, and apostles de- 
clare they were made kings and priests unto 
God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It 
reads just so in the Revelation. Hence, the 
doctrine of a plurality of Gods is as prominent 
in the Bible as any other doctrine. It is all 
over the face of the Bible. It stands beyond 
the power of controversy. A wayfaring man, 
though a fool, need not err therein. 

Paul says there are Gods many and Lords 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 55 

many. I want to set it forth in a plain and 
simple manner; but to us there is but one God 
— that is pertaining to us ; and he is in all and 
through all. But if Joseph Smith says there 
are Gods t many and Lords many, they cry, 
"Away with him ! Crucify him ! Crucify him !" 

Mankind verily say that the scriptures are 
with them. Search the scriptures, for they 
testify of things that these apostates would 
gravely pronounce blasphemy. Paul, if Jo- 
seph Smith is a blasphemer, you are. I say 
there are Gods many and Lords many, but to 
us only one, and we are to be in subjection to 
that one, and no man can limit the bounds or 
the eternal existence of eternal time. Hath he 
beheld the eternal world, and is he authorized 
to say that there is only one God? He makes 
himself a fool if he thinks or says so, and there 
is an end of his career or progress in knowl- 
edge. He cannot obtain all knowledge, for he 
has sealed up the gate to it. 

Some say I do not interpret the scripture the 
same as they do. They say it means the heath- 
en's gods. Paul says there are Gods many and 
Lords many; and that makes a plurality of 
Gods, in spite of the whims of all men. With- 
out a revelation, I am not going to give them 
the knowledge of the God of heaven. You 
know and I testify that Paul had no allusion 
to the heathen gods. I have it from God, and 
get over it if you can. I have a witness of 
the Holy Ghost, and a testimony that Paul had 
no allusion to the heathen gods in the text. I 



56 Joseph smith's teachings. 

will show from the Hebrew Bible that I am 
correct, and the first word shows a plurality 
of Gods ; and I want the apostates and learned 
men to come here and prove to the contrary, if 
they can. An unlearned boy must give you a 
little Hebrew. "Berosheit baurau Eloheim ait 
aushamayeen vehau auraits," rendered by King 
James' translators, "In the beginning God cre- 
ated the heaven and the earth." I want to an- 
alyze the word "Berosheit." "Rosh," the head ; 
"Sheit," a grammatical termination, The 
"Baith" was not originally put there when the 
inspired man wrote it, but it has been since 
added by an old Jew. "Baurau signifies to 
bring forth; "Eloheim" is from the word 
"Eloi," God, in the singular number; and by 
adding the word "heim," it renders it Gods. 
It read first, "In the beginning the head of the 
Gods brought forth the Gods," or, as others 
have translated it, "The head of the Gods called 
the Gods together." I want to show a little 
learning as well as other fools — 

A little learning is a dangerous thing, 
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring, 
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, 
And drinking largely sobers us up again. 

All this confusion among professed trans- 
lators is for want of drinking another draught. 

The head God organized the heavens and the 
earth. I defy all the world to refute me. In 
the beginning the heads of the Gods organized 
the heavens and the earth. Now the learned 
priests and the people rage, and the heathen 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 57 

imagine a vain thing. If we pursue the He- 
brew text further, it reads, "Berosheit baurau 
Eloheim ait aashamayeen vehau auraits" — 
"The head one of the Gods said, Let us make a 
man in our own image/' I once asked a learned 
Jew, "If the Hebrew language compels us to 
render all words ending in heim in the plural, 
why not render the first Eloheim plural?" He 
replied, "That is the rule with few exceptions ; 
but in this case it would ruin the Bible. " He 
acknowledged I was right. I came here to in- 
vestigate these things precisely as I believe 
them. Hear and judge for yourselves ; and if 
you go away satisfied, well and good. 

In the very beginning the Bible shows there 
is a plurality of Gods beyond the power of 
refutation. It is a great subject I am dwelling 
on. The word Eloheim ought to be in the 
plaural all the way through — Gods. The heads 
of the Gods appointed one God for us; and 
when you take [that] view of the subject, it 
sets one free to see all the beauty, holiness and 
perfection of the God's. All I want is to get 
the simple, naked truth, and the whole truth. 

Many men say there is one God ; the Father, 
the Son and the Holy Ghost are only one God ! 
I say that is a strange God anyhow — three in 
one, and one in three ! It is a curious organi- 
zation. "Father, I pray not for the world, but 
I pray for them which thou hast given me." 
"Holy Father, keep through Thine own name 
those whom thou hast given me, that they may 
be one as we are." All are to be crammed into 



58 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

one God, according to sectarianism. * * * 
****** *I want to read the text 
to }^ou myself — "I am agreed with the Father 
and the Father is agreed with me, and we are 
agreed as one." The Greek shows that it 
should be agreed. "Father, I pray for them 
which Thou hast given me out of the world, 
and not for those alone, but for them also 
which shall believe on me through their word, 
that they all may be agreed, as Thou, Father, 
art with me, and I with Thee, that they also 
may be agreed with us," and all come to dwell 
in unity, and in all the glory and everlasting 
burnings of the Gods ; and then we shall see 
as we are seen, and be as our God and He as 
His Father. I want to reason a little on this 
subject. I learned it by translating the papy- 
rus which is now in my house. I learned a 
testimony concerning Abraham, and he rea- 
soned concerning the God of heaven. "In or- 
der to do that," said he, "suppose we have two 
facts : that supposes another fact may exist — 
two men on the earth, one wiser than the other, 
would logically show that another who is wiser 
than the wisest may exist. Intelligences exist 
one above another, so that there is no end to 
them." 

If Abraham reasoned thus — If Jesus Christ 
was the Son of God, and John discovered that 
God the Father of Jesus Christ had a Father, 
you may suppose that He had a Father also. 
Where was there ever a son without a father? 
And where was there ever a father without first 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 59 

being a son? Whenever did a tree or anything 
spring into existence without a progenitor? 
And everything comes in this way. Paul says 
that which is earthly is in the likeness of that 
which is heavenly, Hence if Jesus had a Father, 
can we not believe that He had a Father also? 
I despise the idea of being scared to death at 
such a doctrine, for the Bible is full of it. 

I want you to pay particular attention to 
what I am saying. Jesus said that the Father 
wrought precisely in the same way as His 
Father had done before Him. As the Father 
had done before. He laid down His life, and 
took it up the same as His Father had done be- 
fore. He did as He was sent, to lay down His 
life and take it up again; and then was com- 
mitted unto Him the keys, &c. I know it is 
good reasoning. 

I want to stick to my text, to show that when 
men open their lips against these truths they 
do not injure me, but injure themselves. To 
the law and to the testimony, for these prin- 
ciples are poured out all over the scriptures. 
When things that are of the greatest impor- 
tance are passed over by weak-minded men 
without even a thought, I want to see truth 
in all its bearings and hug it to my bosom. I 
believe all that God ever revealed, and I never 
hear of a man being damned for believing too 
much ; but they are damned for unbelief. 

They found fault with Jesus Christ because 
He said He was the Son of God, and made 



60 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

Himself equal with God. They say of me, like 
they did of the apostles of old, that I must be 
put down. What did Jesus say? "Is it not 
written in your law, I said, Ye are Gods? If 
He called them Gods unto whom the word of 
God came, and the scriptures cannot be brok- 
en, say ye of Him whom the Father had sancti- 
fied and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest, 
because I said I am the Son of God?" It was 
through Him that they drank of the spiritual 
rock. Of course He would take the honor to 
Himself. Jesus, if they were called Gods unto 
whom the word of God came, why should it be 
thought blasphemy that I should say I am the 
son of God? 



Go and read the vision in the Book of Cove- 
nants. There is clearly illustrated glory upon 
glory — one glory of the sun, another glory of 
the moon, and a glory of the stars ; and as one 
star differeth from another star in glory, even 
so do they of the telestial world differ in glory, 
and every man who reigns in celestial glory is 
a God to his dominions. * * * 

Paul says, "There is one glory of the sun, 
and another glory of the moon, and another 
glory of the stars; for one star differeth from 
another star in glory. So is also the resurrec- 
tion of the dead." They who obtain a glorious 
resurrection from the dead, are exalted far 
above principalities, powers, thrones, domin- 
ions and angels, and are expressly declared to 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 61 

be heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus 
Christ, all having eternal power. 

The scriptures are a mixture of very strange 
doctrines to the Christian world, who are blind- 
ly led by the blind. I will refer to another 
scripture. "Now," says God, when He visited 
Moses in the bush, (Moses was a stammering 
sort of a boy like me) God said, "Thou shalt 
be a God unto the children of Israel." God 
said, "Thou shalt be a God unto Aaron, and he 
shall be thy spokeman." I believe those Gods 
that God reveals as Gods to be sons of God, 
and all can cry, "Abba, Father !" Sons of God 
who exalt themselves to be Gods, even from 
before the foundation of the world, and are 
the only Gods I have a reverence for. 

John said he was a king. "And from Jesus 
Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the 
first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of 
the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved 
us, and washed us from our sins in His own 
blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto 
God, and His Father; to Him be glory and do- 
minion forever and ever. Amen." Oh, Thou 
God who art King of kings and Lord of lords, 
the sectarian world, by their actions, declare, 
"We cannot believe Thee." 

The old Catholic church traditions are worth 
more than all you have said. Here is a prin- 
ciple of logic that most men have no more 
sense than to adopt. I will illustrate it by ar 
old apple tree. Here jumps off a branch ani 
says, I am the true tree, and you are corrupt 



62 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

If the whole tree is corrupt, are not its 
branches corrupt? If the Catholic religion is 
a false religion, how can any true religion come 
out of it? If the Catholic church is bad, how 
can any good thing come out of it? The char- 
acter of the old churches have always been 
slandered by all apostates since the world be- 
gan. 

I testify again, as the Lord lives, God never 
will acknowledge any traitors or apostates. 
Any man who will betray the Catholics will 
betray you; and if he will betray me, he will 
betray you. All men are liars who say they 
are of the true Church without the revelations 
of Jesus Christ and the Priesthood of Melchis- 
edec, which is after the order of the Son of 
God. 

It is in the order of heavenly things that 
God should always send a new dispensation 
into the world when men have apostatized from 
the truth and lost the priesthood; but when 
men come out and build upon other men's 
foundations, they do it on their own responsi- 
bility, without authority from God; and when 
the floods come and the winds blow, their 
foundations will be found to be sand, and their 
whole fabric will crumble to dust. 

Did I build on any other man's foundation? 
I have got all the truth which the Christian 
world possessed, and an independent revela- 
tion in the bargain, and God will bear me off 
triumphant. I will drop this subject. I wish 
I could speak for three or four hours ; but it is 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 63 

not expedient on acccount of the rain : I would 
still go on, and show you proof upon proofs ; all 
the Bible is equal in support of this doctrine, 
one part as another. — History of the Church, 
Vol. 6, p. 474. 

Godhead, The — There is much said about 
God and the Godhead. The scriptures say 
there are Gods many and Lords many, but to 
us there is but one living and true God, and 
the heaven of heavens could not contain him ; 
for he took the liberty to go into other heavens. 
The teachers of the day say that the Father is 
God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God, 
and they are all in one body and one God. Jesus 
prayed that those that the Father had given 
Him out of the world might be made one in 
them, as they were one; [one in spirit, in mind, 
in purpose]. If I were to testify that the Chris- 
tian world were wrong on this point, my testi- 
mony would be true. 

Peter and Stephen testify that they saw the 
Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. 
Any person that had seen the heavens opened 
knows that there are three personages in the 
heavens who hold the keys of power, and one 
presides over all. 

If any man attempts to refute what I am 
about to say, after I have made it plain, let him 
beware. 

As the Father hath power in Himself, so 
hath the Son power in Himself, to lay down 
His life and take it again, so He has a body 
of Flis own. The Son doeth what He hath seen 



04 JOSEPH SMITHS TEACHINGS. 

the Father do : then the Father hath some day 
laid down His life and taken it again; so He 
has a body of His own; each one will be in 
His own body; and yet the sectarian world be- 
lieve the body of the Son is identical with the 
Father's. 

Gods have an ascendency over the angels 
who are ministering servants. In the resurrec- 
tion, some are raised to be angels ; others are 
raised to become Gods. — History of the Church, 
Vol. 5, p. 426. 

Gospel adds to the Good People may Possess 

— We do not ask any people to throw away 
any good they have got; we only ask them to 
come and get more. What if all the world 
should embrace this Gospel? They would 
then see eye to eye, and the blessings of God 
would be poured out upon the people, which is 
the desire of my whole heart. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 5, p. 259. 

Happiness — Happiness is the object and de- 
sign of our existence ; and will be the end there- 
of, if we pursue the path that leads to it ; and 
this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, 
holiness, and keeping all the commandments of 
God. But we cannot keep all the command- 
ments without first knowing them, and we can- 
not expect to know all, or more than we now 
know unless we comply with or keep those we 
have already received. That which is wrong 
under one circumstance, may be, and often is, 
right under another. 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 65 

God said, "Thou shalt not kill;" at another 
time He said "Thou shalt utterly destroy." 
This is the principle on which the government 
of heaven is conducted — by revelation adapted 
to the circumstances in which the children of 
the kingdom are placed. Whatever God re- 
quires is right, no matter what it is, although 
we may not see the reason thereof till long af- 
ter the events transpire. If we seek first the 
kingdom of God, all good things will be added. 
So with Solomon : first he asked wisdom, and 
God gave it him, and with it every desire of his 
heart, even things which might be considered 
abominable to all who understand the order of 
heaven only in part, but which in reality were 
right because God gave and sanctioned by spe- 
cial revelation. 

A parent may whip a child, and justly, too, 
because he stole an apple ; whereas if the child 
had asked for the apple, and the parent had 
given it, the child would have eaten it with a 
better appetite; there would have been no 
stripes ; all the pleasure of the apple would 
have been secured, all the misery of stealing 
lost. 

This principle will justly apply to all of 
God's dealings with His children. Everything 
that God gives us is lawful and right; and it is 
proper that we should enjoy His gifts and 
blessings whenever and wherever He is dis- 
posed to bestow; but if we should seize upon 
those same blessings and enjoyments without 
law, without revelation, without command- 



66 joseph smith's teachings. 

ment, those blessings and enjoyments would 
prove cursings and vexations in the end, and 
we should have to lie down in sorrow and 
wailings of everlasting regret. But in obedi- 
ence there is joy and peace unspotted, unal- 
loyed; and as God has designed our happiness 
— and the happiness of all His creatures, He 
never has — He never will institute an ordi- 
nance or give a commandment to His people 
that is not calculated in its nature to promote 
that happiness which He has designed, and 
which will not end in the greatest amount of 
good and glory to those who become the recipi- 
ents of His law and ordinances. Blessings of- 
fered, but rejected, are no longer blessings, 
but become like the talent hid in the earth by 
the wicked and slothful servant; the proffered 
good returns to the giver; the blessing is be- 
stowed on those who will receive and occupy ; 
for unto him that hath shall be given, and he 
shall have abundantly, but unto him that hath 
not or will not receive, shall be taken away that 
which he hath, or might have had. 

Be wise today; 'tis madness to defer: 
Next day the fatal precedent may plead. 
Thus on till wisdom is pushe'd out of time 
Into eternity. 

Our heavenly Father is more liberal in His 
views, and boundless in His mercies and bless- 
ings, than we are ready to believe or receive; 
and, at the same time, is more terrible to the 
workers of iniquity, more awful in the execu- 
tions of Hi? punishments, and more ready to 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 67 

detect ever)' false way, than we are apt to sup- 
pose Him to be. He will be inquired of by 
His children. He says : "Ask and ye shall re- 
ceive, seek and ye shall find; but if you will 
take that which is not your own, or which I 
have not given you, you shall be rewarded 
according to your deeds; but no good thing 
will I withhold from them who walk uprightly 
before me, and do my will in all things — who 
will listen to my voice and to the voice of my 
servant whom I have sent; for I delight in 
those who seek diligently to know my pre- 
cepts, and abide by the law of my kingdom ; 
for all things shall be made known unto them 
in mine own due time, and in the end they 
shall have joy." — History of the Church, Vol. 
5, p. 134. 

Healing of the Sick, Ordinance for — What 
is the sign of the healing of the sick ? The lay- 
ing on of hands is the sign or way marked out 
by James, and the custom of the ancient Saints 
as ordered by the Lord, and we cannot obtain 
the blessing by pursuing any other course ex- 
cept the way marked out by the Lord. What 
if we should attempt to get the gift of the 
Holy Ghost through any other means except 
the signs or way which God hath appointed — 
would we obtain it? Certainly not; all other 
means would fail. The Lord says do so and 
so, and I will bless you.— History of the 
Church, Vol. 4, p. 555. 

High Council, Instructions for — The High 



68 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

Council met at my office, when I taught them 
principles relating to their duty as a Council, 
and that they might be guided by the same in 
future, I ordered it to be recorded as follows: 
"That the Council should try no case without 
both parties being present or having an oppor- 
tunity to be present; neither should they 
hear one person's complaint before his case is 
brought up for trial ; neither should they suf- 
fer the character of any one to be exposed be- 
fore the High Council without the person be- 
ing present and ready to defend him or her- 
self; that the minds of the councilors be not 
prejudiced for or against any one whose case 
they may possibly have to act upon." — History 
of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 154. 

High Priests — A High Priest is a member 
of the same Melchisedec Priesthood with the 
Presidency, but not of the same power or au- 
thority in the Church. The Seventies are also 
members of the same Priesthood, [i. e., the 
High Priesthood], are a sort of traveling coun- 
cil or Priesthood, and may preside over a 
church or churches, until a High Priest can be 
had. The Seventies are to be taken from the 
quorum of Elders, and are not to be High 
Priests. They are subject to the direction and 
dictation of the Twelve, who have the keys 
of the ministry. And are to preach the Gospel, 
by the power and influence of the Holy Ghost ; 
and no man can preach the Gospel without the 
Holy Ghost. — History of the Church, Vol. 2, 
p. 477. 



JOSEPH smith's' teachings. 69 

High Priests, Duty of — The duty of a High 
Priest is to administer in spiritual and holy 
things, and to hold communion with God ; but 
not to exercise monarchial government, or to 
appoint meetings for the Elders without their 
consent. And again, it is the High Priests' 
duty to be better qualified to teach principles 
and doctrines, than the Elders; for the office 
of Elder is an appendage to the High Priest- 
hood, and it concentrates and centers in one. 
And again, the process of laboring with mem- 
bers : We are to deal with them precisely as 
the Scriptures direct. If thy brother trespass 
against thee, take him between him and thee 
alone; and, if he make thee satisfaction, thou 
hast saved thy brother ; and if not, proceed to 
take another with thee, etc., and when there is 
no Bishop, they are to be tried by the voice of 
the Church ; and if an Elder, or a High Priest 
be present, he is to take the lead in managing 
the business ; but if not, such as have the high- 
est authority should preside. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 1, p. 338. 

Holy Ghost — No man can receive the Holy 
Ghost without receiving revelations. The Holy 
Ghost is a revelator. — Historv of the Church, 
Vol. 6, p. 58. 

Holy Ghost and Gift of Holy Ghost — There 
is a difference between the Holy Ghost and 
the gift of the Holy Ghost. Cornelius received 
the Holy Ghost before he was baptized, which 
was the convincing power of God unto him of 



70 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

the truth of the Gospel, but he could not re- 
ceive the gift of the Holy Ghost until after he 
was baptized. Had he not taken this sign or 
ordinance upon him, the Holy Ghost which 
convinced him of the truth of God, would have 
left him. Until he obeyed these ordinances and 
received the gift of the Holy Ghost, by the lay- 
ing on of hands, according to the order of God, 
he could not have healed the sick or com- 
manded an evil spirit to come out of a man, and 
it obey him ; for the spirits might say unto him, 
as they did to the sons of Sceva: "Paul we 
know and Jesus we know, but who are ye?" 
It mattereth not whether we live long or short 
on the earth after we come to a knowledge of 
these principles and obey them unto the end. 
I know that all men will be damned if they do 
not come in the way which He hath opened, 
and this is the way marked out by the word of 
the Lord. — History of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 
555. 

Holy Ghost, Gift of — Various and conflict- 
ing are the opinions of men in regard to the 
gift of the Holy Ghost. Some people have 
been in the habit of calling every supernatural 
manifestation the effects of the Spirit of God, 
whilst there are others that think there is no 
manifestation connected with it at all ; and that 
it is nothing but a mere impulse of the mind, 
or an inward feeling, impression, or secret 
testimony or evidence, which men possess, and 
that there is no such a thing as an outward 
manifestation. 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 71 

It is not to be wondered at that men should 
be ignorant, in a great measure, of the princi- 
ples of salvation, and more especially of the 
nature, office, power, influence, gifts, and bless- 
ings of the gift of the Holy Ghost; when we 
consider that the human family have been en- 
veloped in gross darkness and ignorance for 
many centuries past, without revelation, or any 
just criterion [by which] to arrive at a knowl- 
edge of the things of God, which can only be 
known by the Spirit of God. Hence it not infre- 
quently occurs, that when the Elders of this 
Church preach to the inhabitants of the world, 
that if they obey the Gospel they shall receive 
the gift of the Holy Ghost, that the people ex- 
pect to see some wonderful manifestation, some 
great display of power, or some extraordinary 
miracle performed ; and it is often the case that 
young members of this Church for want of bet- 
ter information, carry along with, them their old 
notions of things, and sometimes fall into egre- 
gious errors. We have lately had some infor- 
mation concerning a few members that are in 
this dilemma, and for their information make a 
few remarks "upon the subject. 

We believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost 
being enjoyed now, as much as it was in the 
Apostles' days; we believe that it [the gift of 
the Holy Ghost] is necessary to make and to 
organize the Priesthood, that no man can be 
called to fill any office in the ministry with- 
out it; we also believe in prophecy, in tongues, 
in visions, and in revelations, in gifts, and in 



72 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

healings ; and that these things cannot be en- 
joyed without the gift of the Holy Ghost. We 
believe that the holy men of old spake as they 
were moved by the Holy Ghost, and that holy 
men in these days speak by the same princi- 
ple ; we believe in its being a comforter and a 
witness bearer, that it brings things past to 
our remembrance, leads us into all truth, and 
shows us of things to come; we believe that 
"no man can know that Jesus is the Christ, but 
by the Holy Ghost." We believe in it [this gift 
of the Holy Ghost] in all its fullness, and 
power, and greatness, and glory ; but whilst we 
do this, we believe in it rationally, consistent- 
ly, and scripturally, and not according to the 
wild vagaries, foolish notions and traditions 
of men. 

The human family are very apt to run to 
extremes, especially in religious matters, and 
hence people in general, either want some mir- 
aculous display, or they will not believe in the 
gift of the Holy Ghost at all. If an Elder lays 
his hands upon a person, it is thought by many 
that the person must immediately rise and 
speak in tongues and prophesy; this idea is 
gathered from the circumstance of Paul laying 
his hands upon certain individuals who had 
been previously (as they stated) baptized unto 
John's baptism ; which when he had done, they 
"spake in tongues and prophesied." Phillip 
also, when he had preached the Gospel to the 
inhabitants of the city of Samaria, sent for 
Peter and John, who when they came laid 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 73 

their hands upon them for the gift of the Holy 
Ghost; for as yet he was fallen upon none of 
them ; and when Simon Magus saw that 
through the laying on of the Apostles' hands 
the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them 
money that he might possess the same power, 
(Acts 8.) These passages are considered by 
many as affording sufficient evidence for some 
miraculous, visible manifestation, whenever 
hands are laid on for the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
We believe that the Holy Ghost is imparted 
by the laying on of hands of those in author- 
ity, and that the gift of tongues, and also the 
gift of prophecy are gifts of the Spirit, and are 
obtained through that medium ; but then to say 
that men always prophesied and spoke in 
tongues when they had the imposition of hands, 
would be to state that which is untrue, con- 
trary to the practice of the Apostles, and at 
variance with holy writ; for Paul says, "To 
one is given the gift of tongues, to another the 
gift of prophecy, and to another the gift of heal- 
ing;" and again: "Do all prophesy? do all 
speak with tongues? do all interpret?" evident- 
ly showing that all did not possess these sev- 
eral gifts; but that one received one gift, and 
another received another gift — all did not 
prophesy, all did not speak in tongues, all did 
not work miracles; but all did receive the gift 
of the Holy Ghost; sometimes they spake in 
tongues and prophesied in the Apostles' days, 
and sometimes they did not. The same is the 
case with us also in our administrations, while 



74 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

more frequently there is no manifestation at all ; 
that is visible to the surrounding multitude; 
this will appear plain when we consult the 
writings of the Apostles, and notice their pro- 
ceedings in relation to this matter. Paul, in 
1st Cor. 12, says, "Now concerning spiritual 
gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignor- 
ant ;" it is evident from this, that some of them 
were ignorant in relation to these matters, or 
they would not need instruction. 

Again in chapter 14, he says, "Follow after 
charity and desire spiritual gifts, but rather 
that ye may prophesy." It is very evident 
from these Scriptures that many of them had 
not spiritual gifts, for if they had spiritual 
gifts where was the necessity of Paul telling 
them to follow after them, and it is as evident 
that they did not all receive those gifts by the 
imposition of the hands ; for they as a Church 
had been baptized and confirmed by the laying 
on of hands — and yet to a Church of this kind, 
under the immediate inspection and' superin- 
tendency of the Apostles, it was necessary for 
Paul to say, "Follow after charity, and desire 
spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may proph- 
esy," evidently showing that those gifts were 
in the Church, but not enjoyed by all in their 
outward manifestations. 

But suppose the gifts of the Spirit were im- 
mediately, upon the imposition of hands, en- 
joyed by all, in all their fullness and power; the 
skeptic would still be as far from receiving any 
testimony except upon a mere casualty as be- 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 75 

fore, for all the gifts of the Spirit are not vis- 
ible to the natural vision, or understanding of 
man ; indeed very few of them are. We read 
that "Christ ascended into heaven and gave 
gifts unto men; and He gave some Apostles, 
and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and 
some Pastors and Teachers." (Eph. 4.) 

The Church is a compact body composed of 
different members, and is strictly analogous to 
the human system, and Paul, after speaking of 
the different gifts, says, "Now ye are the body 
of Christ and members in particular; and God 
hath set some in the Church, first Apostles, 
secondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, after 
that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, gov- 
ernments, diversities of tongues. Are all 
Teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do 
all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?" It 
is evident that they do not; yet are they all 
members of one body. All members of the 
natural body are not the eye, the ear, the head, 
or the hand — yet the eye cannot say to the ear 
I have no need of thee, nor the head to the foot, 
I have no need of thee; they are all so many 
component parts in the perfect machine — the 
one body ; and if one member suffer, the whole 
of the members suffer with it: and if one mem- 
ber rejoice, all the rest are honored with it. 

These, then, are all gifts ; they come from 
God ; they are of God ; they are all the gifts of 
the Holy Ghost ; they are what Christ ascended 
into heaven to impart; and yet how few of 
them could be known by the generality of men. 



76 JOSEPH SMITHES TEACHINGS. 

Peter and John were Apostles, yet the Jewish 
court scourged them as impostors. Paul was 
both an Apostle and Prophet, yet they stoned 
him and put him into prison. The people knew 
nothing about it, although he had in his pos- 
session the gift of the Holy Ghost. Our Savior 
was "anointed with the oil of gladness above 
his fellows," yet so far from the people know- 
ing Him, they said He was Beelzebub, and cru- 
cified Him as an impostor. Who could point 
out a Pastor, a Teacher, or an Evangelist by 
their appearance, yet had they the gift of the 
Holy Ghost. 

But to come to the other members of the 
Church, and examine the gifts as spoken of by 
Paul, and we shall find that the world can in 
general know nothing about them, and that 
there is but one or two that could be imme- 
diately known, if they were all poured out im- 
mediately upon the imposition of hands. In I 
Cor. 12, Paul says, "There are diversities of 
gifts yet the same spirit, and there are differ- 
ences of administrations but the same Lord; 
and there are diversities of operations, but it 
is the same God which worketh all in all. But 
the manifestation of the Spirit is given unto 
every man to profit withal. For to one is given, 
by the Spirit, the word of wisdom, to another, 
the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to 
another faith, by the same Spirit; to another 
the gifts of healing, by the same Spirit ; to an- 
other the working of miracles ; to another 
prophecy ; to another the discerning of spirits ; 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 77 

to another divers kinds of tongues ; to aonther 
the interpretation of tongues. But all these 
worketh that one and the self same Spirit, di- 
viding to each man severally as he will." 

There are several gifts mentioned here, yet 
which of them all could be known by an ob- 
server at the imposition of hands? The word 
of wisdom, and the word of knowledge, are as 
much gifts as any other, yet if a person pos- 
sessed both of these gifts, or received them by 
the imposition of hands, who would know it? 
Another might receive the gift of faith, and 
they would be as ignorant of it. Or suppose 
a man had the gift of healing or power to work 
miracles, that would not then be known; it 
would require time and circumstances to call 
these gifts into operation. Suppose a man had 
the discerning of spirits, who would be the 
wiser for it? Or if he had the interpretation of 
tongues, unless someone spoke in an unknown 
tongue, he of course would have to be silent; 
there are only two gifts that could be made 
visible — the gift of tongues and the gift of 
prophecy. These are things that are the most 
talked about, and yet if a person spoke in an 
unknown tongue, according to Paul's testi- 
mony, he would be a barbarian to those pres- 
ent. They would say that it was gibberish ; and 
if he prophesied they would call it nonsense. 
The gift of tongues is the smallest gift per- 
haps of the whole, and yet it is one that is the 
most sought after. 

So that according to the testimony of Scrip- 



78 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

ture and the manifestations of the Spirit in an- 
cient days, very little could be known about it 
by the surrounding multitude, except on some 
extraordinary occasion, as on the day of Pente- 
cost. 

The greatest, the best, and the most useful 
gift would be known nothing about by an ob- 
server. It is true that a man might prophesy, 
which is a great gift, and one that Paul told 
the people — the Church — to seek after and to 
covet, rather than to speak in tongues ; but 
what does the world know about prophesy- 
ing? Paul says that it "serveth only to those 
that believe." But does not the Scriptures say 
that they spake in tongues and prophesied? 
Yes ; but who is it that writes these Scriptures? 
Not the men of the world or mere casual ob- 
servers, but the Apostles — men who knew one 
gift from another, and of course were capable 
of writing about it; if we had the testimony 
of the Scribes and Pharisees concerning the 
outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pente- 
cost, they would have told us that it was no 
gift, but that the people were "drunken with 
new wine," and we shall finally have to come to 
the same conclusion that Paul did — "No man 
knows the things of God but by the Spirit of 
God;" for with the great revelations of Paul 
when he was caught up into the third heaven 
and saw things that were not lawful to utter, 
no man was apprised of it until he mentioned 
it himself fourteen years after ; and when John 
had the curtains of heaven withdrawn, and by 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 79 

vision looked through the dark vista of future 
ages, and contemplated events that should 
transpire throughout every subsequent period 
of time, until the final winding up scene — 
while he gazed upon the glories of the eternal 
world, saw an innumerable company of angels 
and heard the voice of God — it was in the 
Spirit, on the Lord's day, unnoticed and unob- 
served by the world. 

The manifestations of the gift of the Holy 
Ghost, the ministering of angels, or the devel- 
opment of the power, majesty or glory of God 
were very seldom rnanifes/ted' publicly, and 
that generally to the people of God, as to the 
Israelites ; but most generally when angels 
have come, or God has revealed Himself, it has 
been to individuals in private, in their cham- 
ber; in the wilderness or fields, and that gen- 
erally without noise or tumult. The angel de- 
livered Peter out of prison in the dead of night ; 
came to Paul unobserved .by the rest of the 
crew; appeared to Mary and Elizabeth with- 
out the knowledge of others ; spoke to John 
the Baptist whilst the people around were ig- 
norant of it. 

When Elisha saw the chariots of Israel and 
the horsemen thereof, it was unknown to oth- 
ers. When the Lord appeared to Abraham it 
was at his tent door ; when the angels went to 
Lot, no person knew them but himself, which 
was the case probably with Abraham and his 
wife ; when the Lord appeared to Moses, it was 
in the burning bush, in the tabernacle, or in 



80 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

the mountain top ; when Elijah was taken in 
a chariot of fire, it was unobserved by the 
world; and when he was in a cleft of a rock, 
there was loud thunder, but the Lord was not 
in the thunder; there was an earthquake, but 
the Lord was not in the earthquake; and then 
there was a still small voice, which was the 
voice of the Lord, saying, "What doest thou 
hear, Elijah?" 

The Lord cannot always be known by the 
thunder of His voice, by the display of His 
glory or by the manifestation of His power; 
and those that are the most anxious to see 
these things, are the least prepared to meet 
jthem, and were the Lord to manifest His 
power as He did to the children of Israel, such 
characters would be the first to say, "Let not 
the Lord speak any more, lest we His people 
die." 

We would say to the brethren, seek to know 
God in your closets, call upon Him in the fields. 
Follow the directions of the Book of Mormon, 
and pray over and for your families, your cat- 
tle, your flocks, your herds, your corn, and all 
things that you possess ; ask the blessing of 
God upon all your labors, and everything that 
you engage in. Be virtuous and pure; be men 
of integrity and truth ; keep the command- 
ments of God; and then you will be able more 
perfectly to understand the difference between 
right and wrong — between the things of God 
and the things of men; and your path will be 
like that of the just, which shineth brighter and 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 81 

brighter unto the perfect day." — History of the 
Church, Vol. 5, p. 26. 

The gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on 
of hands, cannot be revealed through the medi- 
um of any other principle than the principle of 
righteousness, for if the proposals are not com- 
plied with, it is of no use, but withdraws. — 
History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 379. 

Humility Becoming to Saints — If there are 
any among you who aspire after their own 
aggrandizement, and seek their own opulence, 
while their brethren are groaning in poverty, 
and are under sore trials and temptations, they 
cannot be benefited by the intercession of the 
Holy Spirit, which maketh intercession for us 
day and night with groanings that cannot be 
uttered. 

We ought at all times to be very careful that 
such high-mindedness shall never have place 
in our hearts ; but condescend to men of low 
estate, and with ah 1 long-suffering bear the in- 
firmities of the weak. — History of the Church, 
Vol. 3, p. 299. 

Humility and Brotherhood — Again, let the 
Twelve and all Saints be willing to confess all 
their sins, and not keep back a part ; and let 
the Twelve be humble, and not be exalted, 
and beware of pride, and not seek to excel one 
above another, but act for each other's good, 
and pray for one another, and honor our 
brother or make honorable mention of his 



82 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

name, and not backbite and devour our brother. 
Why will not man learn wisdom by precept 
at this late age of the world, when we have 
such a cloud of witnesses and examples before 
us, and not be obliged to learn by sad experi- 
ence everything we know? 

When the Twelve or any other witnesses 
stand before the congregations of the earth, 
and they preach in the power and demonstra- 
tion of the Spirit of God, and the people are 
astonished and confounded at the doctrine, and 
say, "That man has preached a powerful dis- 
course, a great sermon/' then let that man or 
those men take care that they do not ascribe 
the glory unto themselves, but be careful that 
they are humble, and ascribe the praise and 
glory to God and the Lamb ; for it is by the 
power of the Holy Priesthood and the Holy 
Ghost that they have power thus to speak. 
— History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 383. 

Israel — See Gathering of Israel. 

Immortality, Conditions of — God Almighty, 
Himself dwells in eternal fire ; flesh and blood 
cannot go there, for all corruption is devoured 
by the fire. Our God is a consuming fire. 
When our flesh is quickened by the spirit, 
there will be no blood in this tabernacle. Some 
dwell in higher glory than others. Those who 
have done wrong always have that wrong 
gnawing them. Immortality dwells in ever- 
lasting burnings. * ■ * * You cannot go 
anywhere but where God can find you out. All 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 83 

men are born to die, and all men must rise; 
all must enter eternity. 

In order for you to receive your children to 
yourselves you must have a promise — some 
ordinance; some blessing, in order to ascend 
above principalities, or else it may be an angel. 
They must rise just as they died; we can there 
hail our lovely infants with the same glory — 
the same loveliness in the celestial glory, 
where they all enjoy alike. They differ in 
stature, in size, the same glorious spirit gives 
them the likeness of glory and bloom; the old 
man with his silvery hairs will glory in bloom 
and beauty. No man can describe it to you — 
no man can write it. — History of the Church, 
Vol. 6, p. 366. 

Indians, Policy of Government Respecting — 

The Book of Mormon has made known who 
Israel is, upon this continent. And while we 
behold the government of the United States 
gathering the Indians, and locating them upon 
lands to be their own, how sweet it is to think 
that they may one day be gathered by the Gos- 
pel ! — History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 358. 

The joy that we shall feel, in common with 
every honest American, and the joy that will 
eventually fill their bosoms on account of na- 
tionalizing the Indians, will be reward enough 
when it is shown that gathering them to them- 
selves, and for themselves, to be associated 
with themselves, is a wise measure, and it re- 
flects the highest honor upon our government. 



84 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

May they all be gathered in peace, and form a 
happy union among themselves, to which thou- 
sands may shout, Esto perpetua. — History of 
the Church, Vol. 2, p. 362. 

Infidel, The, and Death-bed Repentance — 

What chance is there for infidelity when we 
are parting with our friends almost daily? 
None at all. The infidel will grasp at every 
straw for help until death stares him in the 
face, and then his infidelity takes its flight, for 
the realities of the eternal world are resting 
upon him in mighty power;, and when every 
earthly support and prop fails him, he then 
sensibly feels the eternal truths of the im- 
mortality of the soul. We should take warning 
and not wait for the death-bed to repent, as 
we see the infant taken away by death, so may 
the youth and middle-aged, as well as the in- 
fant be suddenly called into eternity. Let 
this, then, prove as a warning to all not to 
procrastinate repentance, or wait till a death- 
bed, for it is the will of God that men should 
repent and serve Him in health, and in the 
strength and power of his mind in order to 
secure His blessings, and not wait until he is 
called to die. — History of the Church, Vol. 4, 
p. 553. 

Intemperance, Reflections on — I was in- 
formed today that a man by the name of 
Clark, who was under the influence of ardent 
spirits froze to death last night, near this place. 
How long, O Lord, will this monster intern- 



Joseph smith's teachings. 85 

perance find its victims on the earth ! I fear 
until the earth is swept with the wrath and 
indignation of God, and Christ's kingdom be- 
comes universal. O, come,- Lord Jesus, and cut 
short Thy work in righteousness. — History of 
the Church, Vol. 2, p. 406. 

Jesus Christ's Reign on Earth — While in 
conversation at Judge Adams' during the eve- 
ning, I said, Christ and the resurrected Saints 
will reign over the earth during the thousand 
years. They will not probably dwell upon the 
earth, but will visit it when they please, or 
when it is necessary to govern it. There will 
be wicked men on the earth during the thou- 
sand years. The heathen nations who will not 
come up to worship will be visited with the 
judgments of God, and must eventually be de- 
stroyed from the earth. — History of the : 
Church, Vol. 5, p. 212. 

Jesus Christ's Second Corning — Were I go- 
ing to prophesy, I would say the end [of the 
world] would not come in 1844, 5, or 6, or in 
forty years. There are those of the rising gen- 
eration who shall not taste death till Christ 
comes. 

I was once praying earnestly upon this sub- 
ject, and a voice said unto me, "My son, if 
thou livest until thou art eighty-five years of 
age, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man." 
I was left to draw my own conclusions con- 
cerning this ; and I took the liberty to conclude 
that if I did live to that time, He would make 



86 joseph smith's teachings. 

His appearance. But I do not say whether He 
will make His appearance or I shall go where 
He is. I prophesy in the name of the Lord 
God, and let it be written — the Son of Man will 
not come in the clouds of heaven till I am 
eighty-five years old. * * * The coming 
of the Son of Man never will be — never can be 
till the judgments spoken of for this hour are 
poured out : which judgments are commenced. 
Paul says, "Ye are the children of the light, and 
not of the darkness, that that day should over- 
take you as a thief in the night." It is not the 
design of the Almighty to come upon the earth 
and crush it and grind it to powder, but He 
will reveal it to His servants the prophets. 

Judah must return, Jerusalem must be re- 
built, and the temple, and water come out from 
under the temple, and the waters of the Dead 
Sea be healed. It will take some time to re- 
build the walls of the city and the temple, &c, 
and all this must be done before the Son of 
Man will make His appearance. There will be 
wars and rumors of wars, signs in the heavens 
above and on the earth beneath, the sun turned 
into darkness and the moon to blood, earth- 
quakes in divers places, the seas heaving be- 
yond their bounds ; then will appear one grand 
sign of the Son of Man in heaven. But what 
, will the world do? They will say it is a planet, 
a comet, &c. But the Son of Man will come as 
the sign of the coming of the Son of Man, 
which will be as the light of the morning com- 



joseph smith's teachings. 87 

eth out of the east. — History of the Church, 
Vol. 5, p. 336. 

I have asked the Lord concerning His com- 
ing; and while asking the Lord, He gave a sign 
and said, "In the days of Noah I set a bow in 
the heavens as a sign and token that in any 
year that the bow should be seen the Lord 
would not come ; but there should be seed 
time and harvest during that year; but when- 
ever you see the bow withdrawn, it shall be 
a token that there shall be famine, pestilence, 
and great distress among the nations, and that 
the coming of the Messiah is not far distant." 

But I will take the responsibility upon my- 
self to prophesy in the name of the Lord, that 
Christ will not come this year, as Father 
Miller has prophesied, for we have seen the 
bow ; and I also prophesy, in the name of the 
Lord, that Christ will not come in forty years ; 
and if God ever spoke by my mouth, He will 
not come in that length of time. Brethren, 
when you go home write this down that it may 
be remembered. 

Jesus Christ never did reveal to any man the 
precise time that He would come. Go and 
read the Scriptures, and you cannot find any- 
thing that specifies the exact hour He will 
come; and all that say so are false teachers. — 
History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 254. 

John the Baptist, Greatness and Mission— 
The question arose from the saying of Jesus — 
"Among those that are born of women there is 
not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; 



88 Joseph smith's teachings. 

but he that is least in the kingdom of God is 
greater than he." How is it that John was con- 
sidered one of the greatest of prophets? His 
miracles could not have constitued his great- 
ness. 

First. He was entrusted with a divine mis- 
sion of preparing the way before the face of 
the Lord. Whoever had such a trust com- 
mitted to him before or since? No man. 

Secondly. He was entrusted with the im- 
portant mission, and it was required at his 
hands, to baptize the Son of Man. Whoever 
had the honor of doing that? Whoever had 
so great a privilege and glory? Whoever led 
the Son of God into the waters of baptism, and 
had the privilege of beholding the Holy Ghost 
descend in the form of a dove, or rather in the 
sign of the dove, in witness of that adminis- 
tration? The sign of the dove was instituted 
before the creation of the world, a witness for 
the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in 
the sign of a dove. The Holy Ghost is a per- 
sonage, and is in the form of a personage. It 
does not confine itself to the form of the dove, 
but in sign of the dove. The Holy Ghost can- 
not be transformed into a dove ; but the sign of 
a dove was given to John to signify the truth of 
the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of 
truth and innocence. 

Thirdly. John, at that time, was the only 
legal administrator in the affairs of the king- 
dom there was then on the earth, and holding 
the keys of power. The Jews had to obey his 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 89 

instructions or be damned, by their own law ; 
and Christ Himself fulfilled all righteousness 
in becoming obedient to the law which He had 
given to Moses on the mount, and thereby 
magnified it and made it honorable, instead of 
destroying it. The son of Zacharias wrested 
the keys, the kingdom, the power, the glory 
from the Jews, by the holy anointing and de- 
cree of heaven, and these three reasons con- 
stitute him the greatest prophet born of a 
woman. 

Second question : — How was the least in the 
kingdom of heaven greater than he? 

In reply I asked — Whom did Jesus have ref- 
erence to as being the least? Jesus was looked 
upon as having the least claim in God's king- 
dom, and [seemingly] was least entitled to 
their credulity as a prophet ; as though He had 
said — "He that is considered the least among 
you is greater than John — that is I myself/' — 
History of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 260. 

Judgment, Duty in Passing — Our acts are 
recorded, and at a future day they will be laid 
before us, and if we should fail to judge right 
and injure our fellow-beings, they may there, 
perhaps, condemn us ; there they are of great 
consequence, and to me the consequence ap- 
pears to be of force, beyond anything which I 
am able to express. Ask yourselves, breth- 
ren, how much you have exercised yourselves 
in prayer since you heard of this council ; and 
if you are now prepared to sit in council upon 



90 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

the soul of your brother. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 2, p. 26. 

No man is capable of judging a matter, in 
council, unless his own heart is pure ; and that 
we frequently are so filled with prejudice, or 
have a beam in our own eye, that we are not 
capable of passing right decisions. — History of 
the Church, Vol. 2, p. 25. 

Judgments, False Ideas About — I spoke and 
explained concerning the uselessness of preach- 
ing to the world about great judgments, but 
rather to preach the simple Gospel. Explained 
concerning the coming of the Son of Man ; 
also that it is a false idea that the Saints will 
escape all the judgments, whilst the wicked 
suffer; for all flesh is subject to suffer, and 
"the righteous shall hardly escape ;" still many 
of the Saints will escape, for the just shall live 
by faith ; yet many of the righteous shall fall a 
prey to disease, to pestilence, etc., by reason of 
the weakness of the flesh, and yet be saved 
in the Kingdom of God. So that it is an un- 
hallowed principle to say that such and such 
have transgressed because they have been 
preyed upon by disease or death, for all flesh 
is subject to death; and the Savior has said, 
"Judge not, lest ye be judged." — History of 
the Church, Vol. 4, p. 11. 

judgment, Doctrine of Eternal — That the 
doctrine of eternal judgment was perfectly un- 
derstood by the Apostles, is evident from sev- 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 91 

eral passages of Scripture. Peter preached re- 
pentance and baptism for the remission of sins 
to the Jews who had been led to acts of vio- 
lence and blood by their leaders; but to the 
rulers he said, "I would that through ignor- 
ance ye did it, as did also those ye ruled." "Re- 
pent, therefore, and be converted, that your 
sins may be blotted out, when the times of re- 
freshing (redemption) shall come from the 
presence of the Lord, for He shall send Jesus 
Christ, who before was preached unto you," &c. 
The time of redemption here had reference to 
the time when Christ should come ; then, and 
not till then, would their sins be blotted out. 
Why? Because they were murderers, and no 
murderer hath eternal life. Even David must 
wait for those times of refreshing, before he 
can come forth and his sins be blotted out. 
For Peter, speaking of him says, "David hath 
not yet ascended into heaven, for his sepulchre 
is with us to this day." His remains were then 
in the tomb. Now, we read that many bodies 
of the Saints arose at Christ's resurrection, 
probably all the Saints, but it seems that David 
did not. Why? Because he had been a mur- 
derer. If the ministers of religion had a proper 
understanding of the doctrine of eternal judg- 
ment, they would not be found attending the 
man who forfeited his life to the injured laws of 
his country, by shedding innocent blood; for 
such characters cannot be forgiven, until they 
have paid the last farthing. The prayers of all 
the ministers in the world can never close the 



92 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

gates of hell against a murderer. — History of 
the Church, Vol. 4, p. 359. 

God, the Kingdom of — Some say the kingdom 
of God was not set up on the earth until the 
day of Pentecost, and that John did not preach 
the baptism of repentance for the remission of 
sins ; but I say, in the name of the Lord, that 
the kingdom of God was set up on the earth 
from the days of Adam to the present time. 
Whenever there has been a righteous man on 
earth unto whom God revealed His word and 
gave power and authority to administer in His 
name, and where there is a priest of God — a 
minister who has power and. authority from 
God to administer in the ordinances of the gos- 
pel and officiate in the priesthood of God, there 
is the kingdom of God ; and, in consequence of 
rejecting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the 
prophets whom God hath sent, the judgments 
of God have rested upon people, cities, and na- 
tions, in various ages of the world, which was 
the case with the cities of Sodom and Gomor- 
rah, that were destroyed for rejecting the 
Prophets. 

Now I will give my testimony. I care not for 
man. I speak boldly and faithfully and with 
authority. How is it with the kingdom of God? 
Where did the kingdom of God begin ? Where 
there is no kingdom of God there is no salva- 
tion. What constitutes the kingdom of God? 
Where there is a prophet, a priest, or a right- 
eous man unto whom God gives His oracles, 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 93 

there is the kingdom of God; and where the 
oracles of God are not, there the kingdom of 
God is not. 

In these remarks, I have no allusion to the 
kingdoms of the earth. We will keep the laws 
of the land; we do not speak against them; we 
never have, and we can hardly make mention 
of the state of Missouri, of our persecutions 
there, &c, but what the cry goes forth that we 
are guilty of larceny, burglary, arson, treason, 
murder, &c, which is false. We speak of the 
kingdom of God on the earth, not the kingdoms 
of men. 

The plea of many in this day is, that we 
have no right to receive revelations ; but if we 
do not get revelations, we do not have the or- 
acles of God ; and if they have not the oracles 
of God, they are not the people of God. But 
say you, What will become of the world, or the 
various professors of religion who do not be- 
lieve in revelation and the oracles of God as 
continued to His Church in all ages of the 
world, when He has a people on earth? I tell 
you, in the name of Jesus Christ, they will be 
damned; and when you get into the eternal 
world, you will find it will be so, they cannot 
escape the damnation of hell. 

As touching the Gospel and baptism that 
John preached, I would say that John came 
preaching the Gospel for the remission of sins ; 
he had his authority from God, and the oracles 
of God were with him, and the kingdom of God 
for a season seemed to rest with John alone. 



94 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

The Lord promised Zacharias that he should 
have a son who was a descendant of Aaron, the 
Lord having promised that the priesthood 
should continue with Aaron and his seed 
throughout their generations. Let no man take 
this honor upon himself, except he be called 
of God, as was Aaron ; and Aaron received his 
call by revelation. An angel of God also ap- 
peared unto Zacharias while in the Temple, and 
told him that he should have a son, whose 
name should be John, and he should be filled 
with the Holy Ghost. Zacharias was a priest 
of God, and officiating in the Temple, and John 
was a priest after his father, and held the keys 
of the Aaronic Priesthood, and was called of 
God to preach the Gospel of the kingdom of 
God. The Jews, as a nation, having departed 
from the law of God and the Gospel of the 
Lord, prepared the way for transferring it to 
the Gentiles. 

But, says one, the kingdom of God could not 
be set up in the days of John, for John said the 
kingdom was at hand. But I would ask if it 
could be any nearer to them than to be in the 
hands of John. The people need not wait for 
the days of Pentecost to find the kingdom of 
God, for John had it with him, and he came 
forth from the wilderness crying out, "Repent 
ye, for the kingdom of heaven is nigh at hand," 
as much as to say, "Out here I have got the 
kingdom of God and I am coming after you ; 
I have got the kingdom of God, and you can get 
it, and I am coming after you ; and if you don't 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 95 

receive it, you will be damned ;" and the scrip- 
tures represent that all Jerusalem went out 
unto John's baptism. There was a legal admin- 
istrator, and those that were baptized were sub- 
jects for a king; and also the laws and oracles 
of God were there; therefore the kingdom of 
God was there; for no man could have better 
authority to administer than John ; and our 
Savior submitted to that authority Himself, by 
being baptized by John ; therefore the kingdom 
of God was set up on the earth, even in the 
days of John. 

There is a difference between the kingdom 
of God and the fruits and blessings that flow 
from the kingdom ; because there were more 
miracles, gifts, visions, healings, tongues, &c, 
in the days of Jesus Christ and His apostles, 
and on the day of Pentecost, than under John's 
administration, it does not prove by any means 
that John had not the kingdom of God, any 
more than it would that a woman had not a 
milkpan because she had not a pan of milk, for 
while the pan might be compared to the king- 
dom, the milk might be compared to the bless- 
ings of the kingdom. 

John was a priest after the order of Aaron, 
and had the keys of that priesthood, and came 
forth preaching repentance and baptism for the 
remission of sins, but at the same time cries 
out, "There cometh one mightier than I after 
me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy 
to stoop down and unloose," and Christ came 
according to the words of John, and He was 



96 joseph smith's teachings. 

greater than John, because He held the keys of 
the Melchisedek Priesthood and kingdom of 
God, and had before revealed the priesthood 
of Moses, yet Christ was baptized by John to 
fulfill all righteousness ; and Jesus in His teach- 
ings says, "Upon this rock I will build my 
Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail 
against it." What rock? Revelation. 

Again he says, "Except a man be born of 
water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the 
kingdom of God;" and, "heaven and earth shall 
pass away, but my words shall not pass away." 
If a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he 
can get into the kingdom of God. It is evident 
the kingdom of God was on the earth, and John 
prepared subjects for the kingdom, by preach- 
ing the Gospel to them and baptizing them, and 
he prepared the way before the Savior, or came 
as a forerunner, and prepared subjects for the 
preaching of Christ; and Christ preached 
through Jerusalem on the same ground where 
John had preached ; and when the apostles were 
raised up, they worked in Jerusalem, and Jesus 
commanded them to tarry there until they were 
endowed with power from on high. Had they 
not work to do in Jerusalem? They did work, 
and prepared a people for the Pentecost. The 
kingdom of God was with them before the day 
of Pentecost, as well as afterwards ; and it was 
with John, and he preached the same Gospel 
and baptism that Jesus and the apostles 
preached after him. The endowment was to 



joseph smith's teachings. 97 

prepare the disciples for their missions unto the 
world. 

Whenever men can find the will of God 
and find an administrator legally authorized 
from God, there is the kingdom of God ; but 
where these are not, the kingdom of God is not. 
All the ordinances, systems, and administra- 
tions on the earth are of no use to the children 
of men, unless they are ordained and authorized 
of God ; for nothing will save a man but a legal 
administrator; for none others will be acknowl- 
edged either by God or angels. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 5, p. 256. 

Kingdom of God, Seeing and Entering the — 

It is one thing to see the Kingdom of God, and 
another thing to enter into it. We must have 
a change of heart to see the kingdom of God, 
and subscribe the articles of adoption to enter 
therein. — History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 58. 

Knowledge Saves Mankind — If you wish to 
go where God is, you must be like God, or pos- 
sess the principles which God possesses, for if 
we are not drawing towards God in principle, 
we are going from Him and drawing towards 
the devil. Yes, I am standing in the midst of 
all kinds of people. 

Search your hearts, and see if you are like 
God. I have searched mine, and feel to repent 
of all my sins. 

We have thieves among us, adulterers, liars, 
hypocrites. If God should speak from heaven, 
He would command vou not to steal, not to 



V5 JOSEPH SMITHS TEACHINGS. 

commit adultery, not to covet, nor deceive, but 
be faithful over a few things. As far as we de- 
generate from God, we descend to the devil and 
lose knowledge, and without knowledge we 
cannot be saved, and while our hearts are filled 
with evil, and we are studying evil, there is no 
room in our hearts for good, or studying good. 
Is not God good? Then you be good; if He is 
faithful, then you be faithful. Add to your faith 
virtue, to virtue knowledge, and seek for every 
good thing. 

The Church must be cleansed, and I proclaim 
against all iniquity. A man is saved no faster 
than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get 
knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by 
some evil power in the other world, as evil 
spirits will have more knowledge, and conse- 
quently more power than many men who are 
on the earth. Hence it needs revelation to as- 
sist us, and give us knowledge of the things of 
God.— History of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 588. 

Law of the Lord — My soul delighteth in the 
law of the Lord, for He forgiveth my sins, and 
will confound mine enemies. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 2, p. 46. 

Lord's Supper, Partaking of it Worthily — 

Previous to the administration, I spoke of the 
propriety of this institution in the Church, and 
urged the importance of doing it with accep- 
tance before the Lord, and asked, How long do 
you suppose a man may partake of this ordi- 
nance unworthily, and the Lord not withdraw 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 99 

His Spirit from him? How long will he thus 
trifle with sacred things, and the Lord not give 
him over to the buffetings of Satan until the 
day of redemption? The Church should know 
if they are unworthy from time to time to par- 
take, lest the servants of God be forbidden to 
administer it. Therefore our hearts ought to be 
humble, and we to repent of our sins, and put 
away evil from among us. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 2, p. 204. 

Love, the Principle of — Sectarian priests cry 
out concerning me, and ask, "Why is it this 
babbler gains so many followers, and retains 
them?" I answer, It is because I possess the 
principle of love. All I can offer the world is a 
good heart and a good hand. 

The Saints can testify whether I am willing 
to lay down my life for my brethren. If it has 
been demonstrated that I have been willing to 
die for a "Mormon." I am bold to declare be- 
fore heaven that I am just as ready to die in 
defending the rights of a Presbyterian, a Bap- 
tist, or a good man of any other denomination ; 
for the same principle which would trample up- 
on the rights of the Latter-day Saints would 
trample upon the rights of the Roman Catho- 
lics, or of any other denomination who may be 
unpopular and too weak to defend themselves. 

It is a love of liberty which inspires my soul 
— civil and religious liberty to the whole of the 
human race. Love of liberty was diffused into 
my soul by my grandfathers while they dandled 



100 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

me on their knees; and shall I want friends? 
No. 

The inquiry is frequently made of me, 
"Wherein do you differ from others in your re- 
ligious views?" In reality and essence we do 
not differ so far in our religious views, but that 
we could all drink into one principle of love. 
One of the grand fundamental principles of 
"Mormonism" is to receive truth, let it come 
from whence it may. 

We believe in the Great Eloheim who sits 
enthroned in yonder heavens. So do the Pres- 
byterians. If a skilful mechanic, in taking a 
welding heat, uses borax, alum, etc., and suc- 
ceeds in welding together iron or steel more 
perfectly than any other mechanic, is he not de- 
serving of praise? And if by the principles of 
truth I succeed in uniting men of all denomina- 
tions in the bonds of love, shall I not have at- 
tained a good object? 

If I esteem mankind to be in error, shall I 
bear them down? No. I will lift them up, and 
in their own way too, if I cannot persuade 
them my way is better ; and I will not seek to 
compel any man to believe as I do, only by 
the force of reasoning, for truth will cut its 
own way. Do you believe in Jesus Christ and 
the Gospel of salvation which He revealed? So 
do I. Christians should cease wrangling and 
contending with each other, and cultivate the 
principles of union and friendship in their 
midst; and they will do it before the millen- 
nium can be ushered in and Christ takes pos- 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 101 

session of His kingdom. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 5, p. 498. 

Man's Duty to Animal Creation — In pitching 
my tent we found three massasaugas or prairie 
rattlesnakes, which the brethren were about to 
kill, but I said, "Let them alone — don't hurt 
them ! How will the serpent ever lose its 
venom, while the servants of God possess the 
same disposition, and continue to make war 
upon it? Men must become harmless, before 
the brute creation ; and when men lose their 
vicious dispositions and cease to destroy the 
animal race, the lion and the lamb can dwell 
together, and the sucking child can play with 
the serpent in safety." The brethren took the 
serpents carefully on sticks and carried them 
across the creek. I exhorted the brethren not 
to kill a serpent, bird, or an animal of any kind 
during our journey unless it became necessary 
in order to preserve ourselves from hunger. — 
History of the Church. Vol. 2, p. 71. 

Man's Relationship to God — All men know 
that they must die. And it is important that 
we should understand the reasons and causes of 
our exposure to the vicissitudes of life and of 
death, and the designs and purposes of God in 
our coming into the world, our sufferings here, 
and our departure hence. What is the object of 
our coming into existence, then dying and fall- 
ing away, to be here no more? It is but rea- 
sonable to suppose that God would reveal 
something in reference to the matter, and it is a 



102 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

subject we ought to study more than any other. 
We ought to study it day and night, for the 
world is ignorant in reference to their true con- 
dition and relation. If we have any claim on 
our Heavenly Father for anything, it is for 
knowledge on this important subject. Could 
we read and comprehend all that has been writ- 
ten from the days of Adam, on the relation of 
man to God and the angels in a future state, 
we should know very little about it. Reading 
the experience of others, or the revelation given 
to them, can never give us a comprehensive 
view of our condition and true relation to God. 
Knowledge of these things can only be ob- 
tained by experience through the ordinances of 
God set forth for that purpose. Could you gaze 
into heaven five minutes, you would know more 
than you would by reading all that ever was 
written on the subject. 

We are only capable of comprehending that 
certain things exist, which we may acquire by 
certain fixed principles. If men would acquire 
salvation, they have got to be subject, before 
they leave this world, to certain rules and prin- 
ciples, which were fixed by an unalterable de- 
cree before the world was. 

The disappointment of hopes and expecta- 
tions at the resurrection would be indescribably 
dreadful. 

The organization of the spiritual and heav- 
enly worlds, and of spiritual and heavenly be- 
ings, was agreeable to the most perfect order 
and harmony: their limits and bounds were 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 103 

fixed irrevocably, and voluntarily subscribed to 
in their heavenly estate by themselves, and 
were by our first parents subscribed to upon the 
earth. Hence the importance of embracing 
and subscribing to principles of eternal truth 
by all men upon the earth that expect eternal 
life. — History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 50. 

Marriage an Institution of Heaven — I had an 
invitation to attend a wedding at Brother Hy- 
rum Smith's in the evening; also to solemnize 
the matrimonial ceremony between Newel 
Knight and Lydia Goldthwaite. My wife ac- 
companied me. On our arrival a considerable 
company had collected. The bridegroom and 
bride came in, and took their seats, which gave 
me to understand that they were ready. After 
prayers, I requested them to rise, and join 
hands. I then remarked that marriage was an 
institution of heaven, instituted in the garden 
of Eden; that it was necessary it should be 
solemnized by the authority of the everlasting 
Priesthood. The ceremony was original with 
me, and in substance as follows — You covenant 
to be each other's companions through life, and 
discharge the duties of husband and wife in 
every respect; to which they assented. I then 
pronounced them husband and wife in the 
name of God, and also pronounced upon them 
the blessings that the Lord conferred upon 
Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, that is, 
to multiply and replenish the earth, with the 
addition of long life and prosperity. — History 
of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 320. 



104 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

Marriage Covenant, Importance of the Eter- 
nity of — Except a man and his wife enter into 
an everlasting covenant and be married for 
eternity, while in this probation, by the power 
and authority of the Holy Priesthood, they will 
cease to increase when they die ; that is, they 
will not have any children after the resurrec- 
tion. But those who are married by the power 
and authority of the priesthood in this life, and 
continue without committing the sin against 
the Holy Ghost, will continue to increase and 
have children in the celestial glory. The un- 
pardonable sin is to shed innocent blood, or be 
accessory thereto. All other sins will be visited 
with judgment in the flesh, and the spirit being 
delivered to the buffetings of Satan until the 
day of the Lord Jesus. 

The way I know in whom to confide — God 
tells me in whom I may place confidence. 

In the celestial glory there are three heavens 
or degrees ; and in order to obtain the highest, 
a man must enter into this order of priesthood, 
[meaning the new and everlasting covenant of 
marriage;] and if he does not, he cannot obtain 
it. He may enter into the other, but that is the 
end of his kingdom : he cannot have an in- 
crease/' — History of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 391. 

Matter, No Such Thing as Immaterial — There 
is no such thing as immaterial matter. All 
spirit is matter, but is more fine or pure, and 
can only be discerned by purer eyes. We can- 
not see it, but when our bodies are purified, we 



Joseph smith's teachings. 105 

shall see that it is all matter. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 5, p. 393. 

Mercy and Forgiveness — Ever keep in exer- 
cise the principle of mercy, and be ready to for- 
give our brother on the first intimations of re- 
pentance, and asking forgiveness ; and should 
we even forgive our brother, or even our ene- 
my, before he repent or ask forgiveness, our 
heavenly Father would be equally as merciful 
unto us. — History of the Church,* Vol. 3, p. 
383. 

Mercy of God Everlasting — There is never 
a time when the spirit is too old to approach 
God. All are within the reach of pardoning 
mercy, who have not committed the unpar- 
donable sin, which hath no forgiveness, neither 
in this world nor in the world to come. — His- 
tory of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 425. 

Members of Church Not to Receive In- 
struction for Those Higher in Authority — It 
is contrary to the economy of God for any 
member of the Church, or any one, to receive 
instructions for those in authority higher than 
themselves ; therefore you will see the impro- 
priety of giving heed to them; but if any per- 
son have a vision, or a visitation from a heav- 
enly messenger, it must be for his own benefit 
and instruction. — History of the Church, Vol. 
1, p. 338. 

Missionaries, Advice to — Oh ye elders of 
Israel, harken to my voice; and when you are 

8 



106 joseph smith's teachings. 

sent into the world to preach, tell those things 
you are sent to tell; preach and cry aloud, 
"Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at 
hand; repent and believe the Gospel. " De- 
clare the first principles, and let mysteries 
alone, lest ye be overthrown. Never meddle 
with the visions of beasts and subjects you do 
not understand. — History of the Church, Vol. 
5, p. 344. 

Missionaries, Duty of — While waiting, I 
made the following remarks : that the time that 
we were required to tarry in Kirtland to be 
endowed, would be fulfilled in a few days, and 
then the Elders would go forth, and each must 
stand for himself, as it was not necessary for 
them to be sent, out, two by two, as in former 
times, but to go in all meekness, in sobriety, 
and preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified; not 
to contend with others on account of their 
faith, or systems of religion, but pursue a 
steady course. This I delivered by way of 
commandment ; and all who observe it not, will 
pull down persecution upon their heads, while 
those who do, shall always be filled with the 
Holy Ghost; this I pronounced as a prophecy, 
and sealed with hosanna and amen. Also that 
the Seventies are not called to serve tables, or 
preside over churches, to settle difficulties, but 
are to preach the Gospel and build them up, 
and set others, who do not belong to these 
quorums, to preside over them, who are High 
Priests. The Twelve also are not to serve 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 107 

tables, but to bear the keys of the Kingdopi to 
all nations, and unlock the door of the Gospel 
to them, and call upon the Seventies to follow 
after them, and assist them. The Twelve are 
at liberty to go wheresoever they will, and if 
any one will say, I wish to go to such a place, 
let all the rest say amen. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 2, p. 431. 

First, it becomes an Elder when he is 
traveling through the world, warning the 
inhabitants of the earth to gather together, 
that they may be built up a holy city unto 
the Lord, instead of commencing with chil- 
dren, or those who look up to parents or 
guardians to influence their minds, thereby 
drawing them from their duties, which they 
rightfully owe these legal guardians, they 
should commence their labors with parents, or 
guardians ; and their teachings should be such 
as are calculated to turn the hearts of the 
fathers to the children, and the hearts of the 
children to the fathers ; and no influence should 
be used with children, contrary to the consent 
of their parents or guardians ; but all such as 
can be persuaded in a lawful and righteous 
manner, and with common consent, we should 
feel it our duty to influence them to gather 
with the people of God. But otherwise let the 
responsibility rest upon the heads of parents 
or guardians, and all condemnation or conse- 
quences be upon their heads, according to the 
dispensation which he hath committed unto us ; 
for God hath so ordained, that His work shall 



108 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

be cut short in righteousness, in the last days ; 
therefore, first teach the parents, and then, with 
their consent, persuade the children to em- 
brace the Gospel also. And if children em- 
brace the Gospel, and their parents or guardi- 
ans are unbelievers, teach them to stay at home 
and be obedient to their parents or guardians, 
if they require it; but if they consent to let 
them gather with the people of God, let them 
do so, and there shall be no wrong; and let all 
things be done carefully and righteously and 
God will extend to all such His guardian care. 
And secondly, it is the duty of Elders, when 
they enter into any house, to let their labors 
and warning voice be unto the master of that 
house ; and if he receive the Gospel, then he 
may extend his influence to his wife also, with 
consent, that peradventure she may receive the 
Gospel ; but if a man receive not the Gospel, 
but gives his consent that his wife may re- 
ceive it, and she believes, then let her receive 
it. But if a man forbid his wife, or his chil- 
dren, before they are of age, to receive the 
Gospel, then it should be the duty of the Elder 
to go his way, and use no influence against him, 
and let the responsibility be upon his head; 
shake off the dust of thy feet as a testimony 
against him, and thy skirts shall then be clear 
of their souls. Their sins are not to be an- 
swered upon such as God hath sent to warn 
them to flee the wrath to come, and save them- 
selves from this untoward generation. The 
servants of God will not have gone over the 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 109 

nations of the Gentiles, with a warning voice, 
until the destroying angel will commence to 
waste the inhabitants of the earth, and as the 
prophet hath said, "It shall be a vexation to 
hear the report." I speak thus because I feel 
for my fellow men ; I do it in the name of the 
Lord, being moved upon by the Holy Spirit. 
Oh, that I could snatch them from the vortex 
of misery, into which I behold them plunging 
themselves, by their sins ; that I might be en- 
abled by the warning voice, to be an instru- 
ment of bringing them to unfeigned repentance, 
that they might have faith to stand in the evil 
day! 

Thirdly, it should be the duty of an Elder, 
when he enters into a house, to salute the mas- 
ter of that house, and if he gain his consent, 
then he may preach to all that are in that 
house ; but if he gain not his consent, let him 
not go unto his slaves, or servants, but let the 
responsibility be upon the head of the master 
of that house, and the consequences thereof, 
and the guilt of that house is no longer upon 
his skirts, he is free ; therefore, let him shake 
off the dust of his feet, and go his way. But 
if the master of that house give consent, the 
Elder may preach to his family, his wife, his 
children and his servants, his man-servants, or 
his maid-servants, or his slaves ; then it should 
be the duty of the Elder to stand up boldly 
for the cause of Christ, and warn that people 
with one accord to repent and be baptized for 
the remission of sins, and for the Holy Ghost, 



110 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

always commanding them in the name of the 
Lord, in the spirit of meekness, to be kindly af- 
fectionate one toward another, that the fathers 
should be kind to their children, husbands to 
their wives, masters to their slaves or servants, 
children obedient to their parents, wives to 
their husbands, and slaves or servants to their 
masters. — History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 262. 

Mormonism, One Fundamental Principle of 

— The inquiry is frequently made of me, 
"Wherein do you differ from others in your re- 
ligious views?" In reality and essence we do 
not differ so far in our religious views, but that 
we could all drink into one principle of love. 
One of the grand fundamental principles of 
"Mormonism" is to receive truth, let it come 
from whence it may. — History of the Church, 
Vol. 5, p. 499. 

Murderer, Fate of a — A murderer, for in- 
stance, one that sheds innocent blood, cannot 
have forgiveness. David sought repentance 
at the hand of God carefully with tears, for the 
murder of Uriah ; but he could only get it 
through hell ; he got a promise that his soul 
should not be left in hell. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 6, p. 253. 

Persecution to be Endured Without Mur- 
muring — Every exertion should be made to 
maintain the cause you have espoused, and to 
contribute to the necessities of one another, as 
much as possible, in this your great calamity, 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. Ill 

and remember not to murmur at the dealings 
of God with His creatures. You are not as yet 
brought into as trying circumstances as were 
the ancient Prophets and Apostles. Call to 
mind a Daniel, the three Hebrew children, 
Jeremiah, Paul, Stephen, and many others, too 
numerous to mention, who were stoned, sawn 
asunder, tempted, slain with the sword, and 
wandered about in sheep skins and goat skins, 
being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom 
the world was not worthy. They wandered in 
deserts and in mountains, and hid in dens, and 
caves of the earth ; yet they all obtained a good 
report through faith ; and amidst all their afflic- 
tions they rejoiced that they were counted 
worthy to receive persecution for Christ's sake. 
—History of the Church, Vol. 1, p. 450. 

Priests — From a retrospect of the require- 
ments of the servants of God to preach the 
Gospel, we find few qualified even to be 
Priests, and if a Priest understands his duty, 
his calling, and ministers and preaches by the 
Holy Ghost, his enjoyment is as great as if he 
were one of the Presidency; and his services 
are necessary in the body as are also those of 
Teachers and Deacons. Therefore, in viewing 
the Church as a whole, we may strictly denom- 
inate it one Priesthood. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 2, p. 478. 

Priesthood — In order to investigate the sub- 
ject of the Priesthood, so important to this, as 
well as every succeeding generation, I shall 



112 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

proceed to trace the subject as far as I possibly 
can from the Old and New Testaments. 

There are two Priesthoods spoken of in the 
Scriptures, viz., the Melchisedek and the Aa- 
ronic or Levitical. Although there are two 
Priesthoods, yet the Melchisedek Priesthood 
comprehends the Aaronic or Levitical Priest- 
hood, and is the grand head, and holds the 
highest authority which pertains to the Priest- 
hood, and the keys of the Kingdom of God in 
all ages of the world to the latest posterity on 
the earth, and is the channel through which all 
knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation, and 
every important matter is revealed from 
heaven. 

Its instiution was prior to "the foundation of 
this earth, or the morning stars sang together, 
or the Sons of God shouted for joy," and is the 
highest and holiest Priesthood, and is after the 
order of the Son of God, and all other Priest- 
hoods are only parts, ramifications, powers and 
blessings belonging to the same, and are held, 
controlled, and directed by it. It is the channel 
through which the Almighty commenced re- 
vealing His glory at the beginning of the cre- 
ation of this earth, and through which He has 
continued to reveal Himself to the children of 
men to the present time, and through which He 
will make known His purposes to the end of 
time. 

Commencing with Adam, who was the first 
man, who is spoken of in Daniel as being the 
"Ancient of Days," or in other words, the first 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 113 

and oldest of all, the great, grand progenitor of 
whom it is said in another place he is Michael, 
because he was the first and father of all, not 
only by progeny, but the first to hold the spir- 
itual blessings, to whom was made known the 
plan of ordinances for the salvation of his pos- 
terity unto the end, and to whom Christ was 
first revealed, and though whom Christ has 
been revealed from heaven, and will continue to 
be revealed from henceforth. Adam holds the 
keys of the dispensation of the fullness of times, 
i. e., the dispensation of all the times have been 
and will be revealed through him from the be- 
ginning to Christ, and from Christ to the end of 
all the dispensations that are to be revealed. 
"Having made known unto us the mystery of 
His will, according to His good pleasure which 
He hath purposed in Himself: that in the dis- 
pensation of the fullness of times He might 
gather together in one all things in Christ, both 
which are in heaven and which are on earth ; 
even in him." (Ephesians, 1st chap., 9th and 
10th verses.) 

Now the purpose in Himself in the winding 
up scene of the last dispensation is that all 
things pertaining to that dispensation should be 
conducted precisely in accordance with the pre- 
ceding dispensations. 

And again. God purposed in Himself that 
there should not be an eternal fullness until 
every dispensation should be fulfilled and gath- 
ered together in one, and that all things what- 
soever, that should be gathered together in one 



114 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

in those dispensations unto the same fullness 
and eternal glory, should be in Christ Jesus; 
therefore He set the ordinances to be the same 
forever and ever, and set Adam to watch over 
them, to reveal them from heaven to man, or to 
send angels to reveal them. "Are they not all 
ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for 
them who shall be heirs of salation?" (He- 
brews 1 :14.) 

These angels are under the direction of 
Michael or Adam, who acts under the direction 
of the Lord. From the above quotation we 
learn that Paul perfectly understood the pur- 
poses of God in relation to His connection with 
man, and that glorious and perfect order which 
He established in Himself, whereby he sent 
forth power, revelations, and glory. 

God will not acknowledge that which He 
has not called, ordained, and chosen. In the 
beginning God called Adam by His own voice. 
"And the Lord called unto Adam and said 
unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I 
heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid 
because I was naked, and hid myself." (See 
Genesis 3rd chap. 9, 10.) Adam received com- 
mandments and instructions from God: this 
was the order from the beginning. 

That he received revelations, commandments 
and ordinances at the beginning is beyond the 
power of controversy ; else how did they begin 
to offer sacrifices to God in an acceptable man- 
ner? And if they offered sacrifices they must 
be authorized by ordination. We read in Gen- 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 115 

esis, 4th chap. 4th), that Abel brought of the 
firstlings of the flock and the fat thereof, and 
the Lord had respect to Abel and to his offer- 
ing. And, again, "By faith Abel offered unto 
God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by 
which he obtained witness that he was right- 
eous, God testifying of his gifts; and by it he 
being dead, yet speaketh." (Hebrews 11:4.) 
How doth he yet speak? Why he magnified 
the Priesthood which was conferred upon him ; 
and died a righteous man, and therefore has be- 
come an angel of God by receiving his body 
from the dead, holding still the keys of his dis- 
pensation ; and was sent down from heaven un- 
to Paul to minister consoling words, and to 
commit unto him a knowledge of the mysteries 
of godliness. 

And if this was not the case, I would ask, 
how did Paul know so much about Abel, and 
why should he talk about his speaking after 
he was dead? Hence, that he spoke after he 
was dead must be by being sent down out of 
heaven to administer. 

This, then, is the nature of the Priesthood; 
every man holding the Presidency of his dis- 
pensation, and one man holding the Presidency 
of them all, even Adam; and Adam receiving 
his Presidency and authority from the Lord, 
but cannot receive a fullness until Christ shall 
present the Kingdom to the Father, which shall 
be at the end of the last dispensation. 

The power, glory and blessings of the Priest- 
hood could not continue with those who re- 



116 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

ceived ordination only as their righteousness 
continued; for Cain also being authorized to 
offer sacrifice, but not offering it in righteous- 
ness, was cursed. It signifies, then, that the 
ordinances must be kept in the very way God 
has appointed; otherwise their Priesthood will 
prove a cursing instead of a blessing. 

If Cain had fulfilled the law of righteousness 
as did Enoch, he could have walked with God 
all the days of his life, and never failed of a 
blessing. "And Enoch walked with God after 
he begat Methuselah 300 years, and begat sons 
and daughters, and all the days of Enoch were 
365 years; and Enoch walked with God, and 
he was not, for God took him." (Gen. 5th chap. 
22nd ver.) Now this Enoch God reserved unto 
Himself, that he should not die at that time, 
and appointed unto him a ministry unto ter- 
restrial bodies, of whom there has been but lit- 
tle revealed. He is reserved also unto the Pres- 
idency of a dispensation, and more shall be 
said of him and terrestrial bodies in another 
treatise. He is a ministering angel, to min- 
ister to those who shall be heirs of salvation, 
and appeared unto Jude as Abel did unto Paul ; 
therefore Jude spoke of him (14, 15 verses). 
And Enoch, the seventh from Adam, revealed 
these sayings : "Behold, the Lord cometh with 
ten thousand of His Saints." 

Paul was also acquainted with this character, 
and received instructions from him. "By faith 
Enoch was translated, that he should not see 
death, and was not found, because God had 



JOSEPH SMITHES TEACHINGS. 117 

translated him; for before his translation he 
had this testimony, that he pleased God ; but 
without faith, it is impossible to please Him, 
for he that cometh to God must believe that He 
is, and that He is a revealer to those who dili- 
gently seek him." (Heb. 11:5.) 

Now the doctrine of translation is a power 
which belongs to this Priesthood. There are 
many things which belong to the powers 
of the Priesthood and the keys thereof, that 
have been kept hid from before the founda- 
tion of the world; they are hid from the wise 
and prudent to be revealed in the last times. 

Many have supposed that the doctrine of 
translation was a doctrine whereby men were 
taken immediately into the presence of God, 
and into an eternal fullness, but this is a mis- 
taken idea. Their place of habitation is that of 
the terrestrial order, and a place prepared for 
such characters He held in reserve to be min- 
istering angels unto many planets, and who as 
yet have not entered into so great a fullness as 
those who are resurrected from the dead. 
"Others were tortured, not accepting deliv- 
erance, that they might obtain a better resur- 
rection." (See. Heb. ltfeh chap., part of the 35th 
verse.) 

Now it was evident that there was a better 
resurrection, or else God would not have re- 
vealed it unto Paul. Wherein then, can it be 
said a better resurrection. This distinction is 
made between the doctrine of the actual res- 
urrection and translation : translation obtains 



118 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

deliverance from the tortures and sufferings of 
the body, but their existence will prolong as to 
the labors and toils of the ministry, before they 
can enter into so great a rest and glory. 

On the other hand, those who were tor- 
tured, not accepting deliverance, received an 
immediate rest from their labors. "And I heard 
a voice from heaven, saying, Blessed are the 
dead who die in the Lord, for from henceforth 
they do rest from their labors and their works 
do follow them/' (See Revelation, 14th chap. 
13th verse.) 

They rest from their labors for a long time, 
and yet their work is held in reserve for them, 
that they are permitted to do the same work, 
after they receive a resurrection for their 
bodies. But we shall leave this subject and the 
subject of the terrestrial bodies for another 
time, in order to treat upon them more fully. 

The next great, grand Patriarch [after 
Enoch] who held the keys of the Priesthood 
was Lamech. "And Lamech lived one hundred 
and eighty-two years and begat a son, and he 
called his name Noah, saying, this same shall 
comfort us concerning our work and the toil of 
our hands because of the ground which the 
Lord has cursed." (See Gen. 5th chap., 28th 
and 29th verses.) The Priesthood continued 
from Lamech to Noah : "And God said unto 
Noah, The end of all flesh is before me, for the 
earth is filled with violence through them, and 
behold I will destroy them with the earth." 
(Gen. 6:13.) 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 119 

Thus we behold the keys of this Priesthood 
consisted in obtaining the voice of Jehovah that 
He talked with him [Noah] in a familiar and 
friendly manner, that He continued to him the 
keys, the covenants, the power and the glory, 
with which he blessed Adam at the beginning ; 
and the offering of sacrifice, which also shall be 
continued at the last time; for all the ordi- 
nances and duties that ever have been required 
by the Priesthood, under the directions and 
commandments of the Almighty in any of the 
dispensations, shall all be had in the last dispen- 
sation, therefore all things had under the au- 
thority of the Priesthood at any former period, 
shall be had again, bringing to pass the restor- 
ation spoken of by the mouth of all the Holy 
Prophets ; then shall the sons of Levi offer an 
acceptable offering to the Lord. "And he shall 
sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he 
shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them 
as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the 
Lord. (See Malachi 3:3.) 

It will be necessary here to make a few ob- 
servations on the doctrine set forth in the above 
quotation, and it is generally supposed that sac- 
rifice was entirely done away when the Great 
Sacrifice [i. e., the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus] 
was offered up, and that there will be no neces- 
sity for the ordinance of sacrifice in future : but 
those who assert this are certainly not ac- 
quainted with the duties, privileges and au- 
thority of the priesthood, or with the Prophets. 

The offering of sacrifice has ever been con- 



120 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

nected and forms a part of the duties of the 
Priesthood. It began with the Priesthood, and 
will be continued until after the coming of 
Christ, from generation to generation. We fre- 
quently have mention made of the offering of 
sacrifice by the servants of the Most High in 
ancient days, prior to the law of Moses ; which 
ordinances will be continued when the Priest- 
hood is restored with all its authority, power 
and blessings. 

Elijah was the last Prophet that held the 
keys of the Priesthood, and who will, before 
the last dispensation, restore the authority and 
deliver the keys of the Priesthood, in order that 
all the ordinances may be attended to in right- 
eousness. It is true that the Savior had au- 
thority and power to bestow this blessing; but 
the sons of Levi were too prejudiced. "And I 
will send Elijah the Prophet before the great 
and terrible day of the Lord," etc. Why send 
Elijah? Because he holds the keys of the au- 
thority to administer in all the ordinances of 
the Priesthood; and without the authority is 
given, the ordinances could not be administered 
in righteousness. 

It is a very prevalent opinion that the sacri- 
fices which were offered were entirely con- 
sumed. This was not the case ; if. you read 
Leviticus, second chapter, second and third 
verses, you will observe that the priests took a 
part as a memorial and offered it up before the 
Lord, while the remainder was kept for the 
maintenance of the priests ; so that the offerings 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 121 

and sacrifices are not all consumed upon the 
altar — but the blood is sprinkled, and the fat 
and certain other portions are consumed. 

These sacrifices, as well as every ordinance 
belonging to the Priesthood, will, when the 
Temple of the Lord shall be built, and the sons 
of Levi be purified, be fully restored and at- 
tended to in all their powers, ramifications, and 
blessings. This ever did and ever will exist 
when the powers of the Melchisedek Priesthood 
are sufficiently manifest ; else how can the resti- 
tution of all things spoken of by the holy 
Prophets be brought to pass? It is not to be 
understood that the law of Moses will be es- 
tablished again with all its rites and variety 
of ceremonies ; this has never been spoken of 
by the Prophets ; but those things which ex- 
isted prior to Moses' day, namely, sacrifice, 
will be continued. 

It may be asked by some, what necessity for 
sacrifice, since the Great Sacrifice was offered? 
In answer to which, if repentance, baptism, and 
faith existed prior to the days of Christ, what 
necessity for them since that time? The Priest- 
hood has descended in a regular line from 
father to son, through their succeeding genera- 
tions. (See Book of Doctrine and Covenants.) 
—History of the Church. Vol. 4, p. 207. 

Priesthood, Eternity of, Nature of, its Res- 
toration, etc. — The Priesthood was first given 
to Adam ; he obtained the First Presidency, and 
held the keys of it from generation to genera- 



122 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

tion. He obtained it in the Creation, before 
the world was formed, as in Gen. 1 :26, 27, 28. 
He had dominion given him over every living 
creature. He is Michael the Archangel, spoken 
of in the Scriptures. Then to Noah, who is 
Gabriel ; he stands next in authority to Adam in 
the Priesthood; he was called of God to this 
office, and was the father of all living in his 
day, and to him was given the dominion. These 
men held keys first on earth, and then in 
heaven. 

The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, 
and existed with God from eternity, and will to 
eternity, without beginning of days or end of 
years. The keys have to be brought from 
heaven whenever the Gospel is sent. When 
they are revealed from heaven, it is by Adam's 
authority. 

Daniel in his seventh chapter speaks .of the 
Ancient of Days ; he means the oldest man, our 
Father Adam, Michael, he will call his children 
together and hold a council with them to pre- 
pare them for the coming of the Son of Man. 
He (Adam) is the father of the human family, 
and presides over the spirits of all men, and 
all that have had the keys must stand before 
him in this grand council. This may take place 
before some of us leave this stage of action. 
The Son of Man stands before him, and there is 
given him glory and dominion. Adam delivers 
up his stewardship to Christ, that which was 
delivered to him as holding the keys of the uni- 
verse, but retains his standing as head of the 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 123 

human family. * * * The Father called all 
spirits before Him at the creation of man, and 
organized them. He (Adam) is the head, and 
was told to multiply. The keys were first given 
to him, and by him to others. He will have to 
give an account of his stewardship, and they to 
him. 

The Priesthood is everlasting. The Savior, 
Moses, and Elias, gave the keys to Peter, 
James, and John, on the mount, when they were 
transfigured before him. The Priesthood is 
everlasting — without beginning of days or end 
of years ; without father, mother, etc. If there 
is no change of ordinances, there is no change 
of Priesthood. Wherever the ordinances of the 
Gospel are administered, there is the Priest- 
hood. 

How have we come at the Priesthood in the 
last days? It came down, down, in regular suc- 
cession. Peter, James, and John had it given 
to them and they gave it to others. Christ is 
the Great High Priest; Adam next. Paul 
speaks of the Church coming to an innumerable 
company of angels — to God the Judge of all — 
the spirits of just men made perfect; to Jesus 
the Mediator of the new covenant. — Heb. 12 :23. 

I saw Adam in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ah- 
man. He called together his children and 
blessed them with a patriarchal blessing. The 
Lord appeared in their midst, and he (Adam) 
blessed them all, and foretold what should be- 
fall them to the latest generation. 

This is why Adam blessed his posterity; he 



124 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

wanted to bring them into the presence of God. 
They looked for a city, etc., ["whose builder 
and maker is God." — Heb. 11:10]. Moses 
sought to bring the children of Israel into the 
presence of God, through the power of the 
Priesthood, but he could not. In the first ages 
of the world they tried to establish the same 
thing; and there were Eliases raised up who 
tried to restore these very glories, but did not 
obtain them ; but they prophesied of a day when 
this glory would be revealed. Paul spoke of the 
dispensation of the fullness of times, when God 
would gather together all things in one, etc. ; 
and those men to whom these keys have been 
given, will have to be there ; and they without 
us cannot be made perfect. 

These men are in heaven, but their children 
are on the earth. Their bowels yearn over us. 
God sends down men for this reason. "And 
the Son of Man shall send forth His angels, 
and they shall gather out of His kingdom all 
things that give offense and them that do ini- 
quity."— (Matt. 13:41.) All these authoritative 
characters will come down and join hand in 
hand in bringing about this work. 

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of 
mustard seed. The mustard seed is small, but 
brings forth a large tree, and the fowls lodge 
in the branches. The fowls are the angels. 
Thus angels come down, combine together to 
gather their children, and gather them. We 
cannot be made perfect without them, nor they 
without us; when these things are done, the 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 125 

Son of Man will descend, the Ancient of Days 
sit; we may come to an innumerable company 
of angels, have communion with and receive in- 
structions from them. Paul told about Moses' 
proceedings ; spoke of the children of Israel be- 
ing baptized. — (I Cor. 10:1-4.) He knew this, 
and that all the ordinances and blessings were 
in the Church. Paul had these things, and we 
may have the fowls of heaven lodge in the 
branches, etc. 

The "Horn" made war with the Saints and 
overcame them, until the Ancient of Days 
came; judgment was given to the Saints of the 
Most High from the Ancient of Days ; the time 
came that the Saints possessed the Kingdom. 
This not only makes us ministers here, but in 
eternity. 

The hearts of the children of men will have 
to be turned to the fathers, and the fathers to 
the children, living or dead, to prepare them for 
the coming of the Son of Man. If Elijah did 
not come, the whole earth would be smitten. — 
History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 385. 

Priesthood, The Melchisedek — The Melchis- 
edek High Priesthood was no other than the 
Priesthood of the Son of God; that there are 
certain ordinances which belong to the Priest- 
hood, from which flow certain results ; and the 
Presidents or Presidency are over the Church ; 
and revelations of the mind and will of God to 
the Church, are to come through the Presi- 
dency. This is the order of heaven, and the 



126 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

power and privilege of this Priesthood. It is 
also the privilege of any officer in this Church 
to obtain revelations, so far as relates to his 
particular calling and duty in the Church. All 
are bound by the principles of virtue and hap- 
piness, but one great privilege of the Priesthood 
is to obtain revelations of the mind and ^yill of 
God. It is also the privilege of the Melchise- 
dek Priesthood, to reprove, rebuke, and admon- 
ish, as well as to receive revelation. If the 
Church knew all the commandments, one-half 
they would condemn through prejudice and ig- 
norance. — History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 477. 

Priesthood, The Sealing Power in the — 

The Bible says, "I will send you Elijah the 
Prophet before the coming of the great and 
dreadful day of the Lord ; and he shall turn the 
hearts of the fathers to the children, and the 
hearts of the children to the fathers, lest I 
come and smite the earth with a curse." 

Now, the word "turn" here should be trans- 
lated "bind," or "seal." But what is the ob- 
ject of this important mission? or how is it to 
be fulfilled? The keys are to be delivered, the 
spirit of Elijah is to come, the Gospel to be 
established, the Saints of God gathered, Zion 
built up, and the Saints to come up as saviors 
on Mount Zion. 

But how are they to become saviors on 
Mount Zion? By building their temples, erect- 
ing their baptismal fonts, and going forth and 
receiving all the ordinances, baptisms, con- 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 127 

firmations, washings, anointings, ordinations, 
and sealing powers upon their heads, in behalf 
of all their progenitors who are dead, and re- 
deem them that they may come forth in the first 
resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory 
with them ; and herein is the chain that binds 
the hearts of the fathers to the children, and 
the children to the fathers, which fulfills the 
mission of Elijah. * * * * 

The Saints have not too much time to save 
and redeem their dead, and gather together 
their living relatives, that they may be saved 
also, before the earth will be smitten, and the 
consumption decreed falls upon the world. 

I would advise all the Saints to go to with 
their might and gather together all their living 
relatives to this place, that they may be sealed 
and saved, that they may be prepared against 
the day that the destroying angel goes forth; 
and if the whole Church should go to with all 
their might to save their dead, seal their pos- 
terity, and gather their living friends, and 
spend none of their time in behalf of the world, 
they would hardly get through before night 
would come, when no man can work; and my 
only trouble at the present time is concerning 
ourselves, that the Saints will be divided, 
broken up, and scattered, before we get our sal- 
vation secure ; for there are so many fools in 
the world for the devil to operate upon, it gives 
him the advantage oftentimes. 

The question is frequently asked, "Can we 
not be saved without going through with all 



128 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

those ordinances, &c. ?" I would answer, No, 
not the fullness of salvation. Jesus said, "There 
are many mansions in my Father's house, and 
I will go and prepare a place for you." "House" 
here named should have been translated king- 
dom ; and any person who is exalted to the 
highest mansion has to abide a celestial law, 
and the whole law too. 

But there has been a great difficulty in get- 
ting anything into the heads of this generation. 
It has been like splitting hemlock knots with 
a corn-dodger for a wedge, and a pumpkin for 
a beetle. Even the Saints are slow to under- 
stand. — History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 183. 

Priesthood, Fullness of — How Obtained — 

If a man gets a fullness of the priesthood of 
God, he has to get it in the same way that 
Jesus Christ obtained it, and that was by keep- 
ing all the commandments and obeying all the 
ordinances of the house of the Lord. — History 
of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 424. 

Prophet, Nature of a — At the suggestion of 
the company, I explained the nature of a 
prophet. 

If any person should ask me if I were a 
prophet, I should not deny it, as that would 
give me the lie ; for, according to John, the 
testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy; 
therefore, if I profess to be a witness or 
teacher, and have not the spirit of prophecy, 
which is the testimony of Jesus, I must be a 
false witness; but if I be a true teacher and 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 129 

witness, I must possess the spirit of prophecy, 
and that constitutes a prophet; and any man 
who says he is a teacher or preacher of right- 
eousness, and denies the spirit of prophecy, is 
a liar, and the truth is not in him ; and by this 
key false teachers and impostors may be de- 
tected. — History of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 215. 

I was this morning introduced to a man from 
the east. After hearing my name, he remarked 
that I was nothing but a man, indicating by 
this expression, that he had supposed that a 
person to whom the Lord should see fit to re- 
peal His will, must be something more than a 
man. He seemed to have forgotten the saying 
that fell from the lips of St. James, that Elias 
was a man subject to like passions as we are, 
yet he had such power with God, that He, in 
answer to his prayers, shut the heavens that 
they gave no rain for the space of three years 
and six months ; and again, in answer to his 
prayer, the heavens gave forth rain, and the 
earth gave forth fruit. Indeed, such is the 
darkness and ignorance of this generation, that 
they look upon it as incredible that a man 
should have any intercourse with his Maker,— 
History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 302. 

Prophet Not Always a Prophet — This morn- 
ing, I read German, and visited with a brother 
and sister from Michigan, who thought that 
"a prophet is always a prophet;" but I told 
them that a prophet was a prophet only when 



130 joseph smith's teachings. 

he was acting as such. — History of the Church, 
Vol. 5, p. 265. 

Prophetic Calling, Defense of — The Savior 
has the words of eternal life. Nothing else 
can profit us. There is no salvation in believ- 
ing an evil report against our neighbor. I ad- 
vise all to go on to perfection, and search 
deeper and deeper into the mysteries of Godli- 
ness. A man can do nothing for himself un- 
less God direct him in the right way; and the 
priesthood is for that purpose. 

The last time I spoke on this stand it was 
on the resurrection of the dead, when I prom- 
ised to continue my remarks upon that subject. 
I still feel a desire to say something on this 
subject. Let us this very day begin anew, and 
now say, with all our hearts, we will forsake 
our sins and be righteous. I shall read the 
24th chapter of Matthew, and give it a literal 
rendering and reading; and when it is rightly 
understood, it will be edifying. [He then read 
and translated it from the German.] 

I thought the very oddity of its rendering 
would be edifying anyhow — "And it will 
preached be, the Gospel of the kingdom, in the 
whole world, to a witness over all people : and 
then will the end come." I will now read it in 
German [which he did, and many Germans 
who were present said he translated it correct- 

lyJ. 

The Savior said when these tribulations 
should take place, it should be committed to a 



joseph smith's teachings. 131 

man who should be a witness over the whole 
world : the keys of knowledge, power and reve- 
lations should' be revealed to a witness who 
should hold the testimony to the world. It has 
always been my province to dig up hidden mys- 
teries—new things — for my hearers. Just at 
the time when some men think that I have no 
right to the keys of the Priesthood just at that 
time I have the greatest right. The Ger- 
mans are an exalted people. The old German 
translators are the most correct — most honest 
of any of the translators ; and therefore I get 
testimony to bear me out in the revelations that 
I have preached for the last fourteen years. The 
old German, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew trans- 
lations all say it is true : they cannot be im- 
peached, and therefore I am in good company. 

All the testimony is that the Lord in the 
last days would commit the keys of the priest- 
hood to a witness over all people. Has the Gos- 
pel of the kingdom commenced in the last days ? 
And will God take it from the man until He 
takes him Himself? I have read it precisely 
as the words flowed from the lips of Jesus 
Christ. John the Revelator saw an angel fly- 
ing through the midst of heaven, having the 
everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that 
dwell on the earth. 

The scripture is ready to be fulfilled when 
great wars, famines, pestilence, great distress, 
judgments, &c, are ready to be poured out on 
the inhabitants of the earth. John saw the an- 
gel having the holy priesthood, who should 



132 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

preach the everlasting Gospel to all nations. 
God had an angel — a special messenger — or- 
dained and prepared for that purpose in the last 
days. Woe, woe be to that man or set of men 
who lift up their hands against God and His 
witness in these last days : for they shall de- 
ceive almost the very chosen ones ! 

My enemies say that I have been a true 
prophet. Why, I had rather be a fallen true 
prophet than a false prophet. When a man 
goes about prophesying, and commands men 
to obey his teachings, he must either be a true 
or false prophet. False prophets always arise 
to oppose the true prophets and they will 
prophesy so very near the truth that they will 
deceive almost the very chosen ones. 

The doctrine of eternal judgments belongs to 
the first principles of the Gospel, in the last 
days. In relation to the kingdom of God, the 
devil always sets up his kingdom at the very 
same time in opposition to God. Every man 
who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants 
of the world was ordained to that very purpose 
in the Grand Council of heaven before this 
world was. I suppose that I was ordained 
to this very office in that Grand Council. It is 
the testimony that I want that I am God's ser- 
vant, and this people His people. The ancient 
prophets declared that in the last days the God 
of heaven should set up a kingdom which 
should never be destroyed, nor left to other 
people ; and the very time that was calculated 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 133 

on, this people were struggling to bring it out. 
He that arms himself with gun, sword, or pis- 
tol, except in the defense of truth, will some- 
time be sorry for it. I never carry any weapon 
with me bigger than my penknife. When I 
was dragged before the cannon and muskets in 
Missouri, I was unarmed. God will always 
protect me until my mission is fulfilled. 

I calculate to be one of the instruments of 
setting up the kingdom of Daniel by the word 
of the Lord, and I intend to lay a, foundation 
that will revolutionize the whole world. I 
once offered my life to the Missouri mob as a 
sacrifice for my people, and here I am. It will 
not be by sword or gun that this kingdom will 
roll on : the power of truth is such that all na- 
tions will be under the necessity of obeying the 
Gospel. The prediction is that army will be 
against army: it may be that the Saints will 
have to beat their plows into swords, for it 
will not do for men to sit down patiently and 
see their children destroyed. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 6, p. 363. 

Records, Importance of — After prayer by 
President Joseph Smith, Jun., he said, if we 
heard patiently, he could lay before the council 
an item which would be of importance. He 
had for himself, learned a fact by experience, 
which, on recollection, always gave him deep 
sorrow. It is a fact, if I now had in my pos- 
session, every decision which had been had 
upon important items of doctrine and duties 



134 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

since the commencement of this work, I would 
not part with them for any sum of money ; but 
we have neglected to take minutes of such 
things, thinking, perhaps, that they would 
never benefit us afterwards ; which, if we had 
them now, would decide almost every point of 
doctrine which might be agitated. But this 
has been neglected, and now we cannot bear 
record to the Church and to the world, of the 
great and glorious manifestations which have 
been made to us with that degree of power and 
authority we otherwise could, if we now had 
these things to publish abroad. 

Since the Twelve are now chosen, I wish to 
tell them a course which they may pursue, and 
be benefited thereafter, in a point of light of 
which they are not now aware. If they will, 
every time they assemble, appoint a person to 
preside over them during the meeting, and one 
or more to keep a record of their proceedings, 
and on the decision of every question or item, 
be it what it may, let such decision be written, 
and such decision will forever remain upon 
record, and appear an item of covenant or doc- 
trine. An item thus decided may appear, at the 
time, of little or no worth, but should it be pub- 
lished, and one of you lay hands on it after, 
you will find it of infinite worth, not only to 
your brethren, but it will be a feast to your 
own souls. 

Here is another important item. If you as- 
semble from time to time, and proceed to dis- 
cuss important questions, and pass decisions 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 135 

upon the same, and fail to note them down, by 
and by you will be driven to straits from which 
you will not be able to extricate yourselves, be- 
cause you may be in a situation not to bring 
your faith to bear with sufficient perfection or 
power to obtain the desired information ; or, 
perhaps, for neglecting to write these things 
when God had revealed them, not esteeming 
them of sufficient worth, the Spirit may with- 
draw, and God may be angry; and there is, or 
was, a vast knowledge, of infinite importance, 
which is now lost. What was the cause of this? 
It came in consequence of slothfulness, or a 
neglect to appoint a man to occupy a few mo- 
ments in writing all these decisions. 

Here let me prophesy. The time will come, 
when, if you neglect to do this thing, you will 
fall by the hands of unrighteous men. Were 
you to be brought before the authorities, and be 
accused of any crime or misdemeanor, and be as 
innocent as the angels of God, unless you can 
prove yourselves to have been somewhere else, 
your enemies will prevail against you ; but if 
you can bring twelve men to testify that you 
were in a certain place, at that time, you will 
escape their hands. Now, if you will be careful 
to keep minutes of these things, as I have said, 
it will be one of the most important records 
ever seen; for all such decisions will ever after 
remain as items of doctrine and covenants. — 
History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 198. 

Reincarnation — See Transmigration of Souls. 



136 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

Repentance and Baptism — Therefore we be- 
lieve in preaching the doctrine of repentance in 
all the world, both to old and young, rich and 
poor, bond and free, as we shall endeavor to 
show hereafter how, and in what manner, and 
how far, it is binding on the consciences of 
mankind, making proper distinctions between 
old and young, men, women, children and ser- 
vants. But we discover, in order to be bene- 
fited by the doctrine of repentance, we must be- 
lieve in obtaining the remission of sins. And 
in order to obtain the remission of sins, we 
must believe in the doctrine of baptism in the 
name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And if we be- 
lieve in baptism for the remission of sins, we 
may expect a fulfillment of the promise of the 
Holy Ghost, for the promise extends to all 
whom the Lord our God shall call ; and hath He 
not surely said, as you will find in the last chap- 
ter of Revelation — "And the Spirit and the 
bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, 
Come. And let him that is athirst come. And 
whosoever will, let him take the water of life 
freely." (Rev. 22 :17.)— History of the Church, 
Vol. 2, p. 256. 

Repentance Not to be Trifled With — Repent- 
ance is a thing that cannot be trifled with every 
day. Daily transgression and daily repentance 
is not that which is pleasing in the sight of 
God. — History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 379. 

Reproof, Necessity for — I frequently rebuke 
and admonish my brethren, and that because 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 137 

I love them, not because I wish to incur their 
displeasure, or mar their happiness. Such a 
course of conduct is not calculated to gain the 
good-will of all, but rather the ill-will of many ; 
therefore, the situation in which I stand is an 
important one ; so, you see, brethren, the higher 
the authority the greater the difficulty of the 
station ; but these rebukes and admonitions be- 
come necessary from the perverseness of the 
brethren, for their temporal as well as spiritual 
welfare. They actually constitute a part of the 
duties of my station and calling. Others have 
other duties to perform that are important, and 
far more enviable, and may be just as good, like 
the feet and hands, in their relation to the hu- 
man body — neither can claim priority, or say 
to the other, I have no need of you. After all 
that has been said, the greatest and most im- 
portant duty is to preach the gospel. — History 
of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 478. 

Resurrection, The — Almost all who have 
fallen in these last days, in the Church have 
fallen in a strange land. This is a strange land 
to those who have come from a distance. 

We should cultivate sympathy for the af- 
flicted among us. If there is a place on earth 
where men should cultivate the spirit and pour 
in the oil and wine in the bosoms of the af- 
flicted, it is in this place; and this spirit is man- 
fest here ; and although a stranger and afflicted 
when he arrives, he finds a brother and a friend 
ready to administer to his necessities. 
10 



138 joseph smith's teachings. 

I would esteem it one of the greatest bless- 
ings, if I am to be afflicted in this world to 
have my lot cast where I can find brothers and 
friends all around me. But this is not the 
thing I referred to : it is to have the privilege of 
having our dead buried on the land where God 
has appointed to gather His Saints together, 
and where there will be none but Saints, where 
they may have the privilege of laying their 
bodies where the Son of Man will make His 
appearance, and where they may hear the 
sound of the trump that shall call them forth 
to behold Him, that in the morn of the resur- 
rection they may come forth in a body, and 
come up out of their graves and strike hands 
immediately in eternal glory and felicity, rather 
than be scattered thousands of miles apart. 
There is something good and sacred to me in 
this thing. The place where a man is buried 
is sacred to me. This subject is made mention 
of in the Book of Mormon and other scrip- 
tures. Even to the aborigines of this land, the 
burying places of their fathers are more sacred 
than anything else. 

When I heard of the death of our beloved 
Brother Barnes, it would not have affected me 
so much, if I had the opportunity of burying 
him in the land of Zion. 

I believe those who have buried their friends 
here, their condition is enviable. Look at Jacob 
and Joseph in Egypt, how they required their 
friends to bury them in the tomb of their 
fathers. See the expense which attended the 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 139 

embalming and the going up of the great com- 
pany to the burial. 

It has always been considered a great calam- 
ity not to obtain an honorable burial : and one 
of the greatest curses the ancient prophets 
could put on any man, was that he should go 
without a burial. 

I have said, Father, I desire to die here 
among the Saints. But if this is not Thy will, 
and I go hence and die, wilt Thou find some 
kind friend to bring my body back, and gather 
my friends who have fallen in foreign lands, 
and bring them up hither, that we may all lie 
together. 

I will tell you what I want. If tomorrow I 
shall be called to lie in yonder tomb, in the 
morning of the resurrection let me strike hands 
with my father, and cry, "My father/' and he 
will say, "My son, my son/' as soon as the rock 
rends and before we come out of our graves. 

And may we contemplate these things so? 
Yes, if we learn how to live and how to die. 
When we lie down we contemplate how we 
may rise in the morning; and it is pleasing for 
friends to lie down together, locked in the arms 
of love, to sleep and wake in each other's em- 
brace and renew their conversation. 

Would you think it strange if I relate what I 
have seen in vision in relation to this interest- 
ing theme? Those who have died in Jesus 
Christ may expect to enter into all that fruition 
of joy when they come forth, which they pos- 
sessed or anticipated here. 



140 JOSEPH smith's TEACHINGS. 

So plain was the vision, that I actually saw 
men, before they had ascended from the tomb, 
as though they were getting up slowly. They 
took each other by the hand and said to each 
other, "My father, my son, my mother, my 
daughter, my brother, my sister." And when 
the voice calls for the dead to arise, suppose I 
am laid by the side of my father, what would 
be the first joy of my heart? To meet my 
father, my mother, my brother, my sister ; and 
when they are by my side, I embrace them and 
they me. 

It is my meditation all the day, and more 
than my meat and drink, to know how I shall 
make the Saints of God comprehend the visions 
that roll like an overflowing surge before my 
mind. 

Oh ! how I would delight to bring before you 
things which you never thought of! But pov- 
erty and the cares of the world prevent. But I 
am glad I have the privilege of communicating 
to you some things which, if grasped closely, 
will be a help to you when earthquakes bellow, 
the clouds gather, the lightnings flash, and 
the storms are ready to burst upon you like 
peals of thunder. Lay hold of these things and 
let not your knees or joints tremble, nor your 
hearts faint; and then what can earthquakes, 
wars and tornadoes do? Nothing. All your 
losses will be made up to you in the resurrec- 
tion, provided you continue faithful. By the 
vision of the Almighty I have seen it. 

More painful to me are the thoughts of anni- 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 141 

hilation than death. If I have no expectation of 
seeing my father, mother, brothers, sisters and 
friends again, my heart would burst in a mo- 
ment, and I should go down to my grave. 

The expectation of seeing my friends in the 
morning of the resurrection cheers my soul and 
makes me bear up against the evils of life. It is 
like their taking a long journey, and on their re- 
turn we meet them with increased joy. 

God has revealed His Son from the heavens 
and the doctrine of the resurrection also; and 
we have a knowledge that those we bury here 
God will bring up again, clothed upon and 
quickened by the Spirit of the great God ; and 
what mattereth it whether we lay them down, 
or we lay down with them, when we can keep 
them no longer? Let these truths sink down 
in our hearts, that we may even here begin to 
enjoy that which shall be in full hereafter. 

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to Almighty 
God, that rays of light begin to burst forth 
upon us even now. I cannot find words in 
which to express myself. I am not learned, but 
I have as good feelings as any man. 

O that I had the language of the archangel 
to express my feelings once to my friends! 
But I never expect to in this life. When others 
rejoice, I rejoice ; when they mourn, I mourn. 

To Marcellus Bates let me administer comfort. 
You shall soon have the company of your com- 
panion in a world of glory, and the friends of 
Brother Barnes and all the Saints who are 
mourning. This has been a warning voice to us 



142 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

all to be sober and diligent and lay aside mirth, 
vanity and folly, and to be prepared to die to- 
morrow. — History of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 360. 

As concerning the resurrection, I will merely 
say that all men will come from the grave as 
they lie down, whether old or young ; there will 
not be "added unto their stature one cubit," 
neither taken from it; all will be raised by the 
power of God, having spirit in their bodies, and 
not blood. — History of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 
555. 

To a remark of Elder Orson Pratt's, that a 
man's body changes every seven years, Pres- 
ident Joseph Smith replied : There is no funda- 
mental principle belonging to a human system 
that ever goes into another in this world or in 
the world to come ; I care not what the theories 
of men are. We have the testimony that God 
will raise us up, and He has the power to do 
it. If any one suppose that any part of our 
bodies, that is, the fundamental parts thereof, 
ever goes into another body, he is mistaken. — 
History of the Church. Vol. 5, p. 339. 

Revelation, No Salvation Without — Salva- 
tion cannot come without revelation; it is in 
vain for anyone to minister without it. No 
man is a minister of Jesus Christ without be- 
ing a prophet. No man can be a minister of 
Jesus Christ except he has the testimony of 
Jesus ; and this is the spirit of prophecy. When- 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 143 

ever salvation has been administered it has 
been by testimony. Men of the present time 
testify of heaven and hell, and have never seen 
either; and I will say that no man knows these 
things without this. — Historv of the Church, 
Vol. 3, p. 389. 

Revelation, Spirit of — The spirit of revela- 
tion is in connection with these blessings. A 
person may profit by noticing the first intima- 
tion of the spirit of revelation ; for instance, 
when you feel pure intelligence flowing into 
you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, 
so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled 
the same day or soon; (i. e.) those things that 
were presented unto your minds by the Spirit 
of God, will come to pass ; and thus by learn- 
ing the Spirit of God and understanding it, you 
may grow into the principle of revelation, until 
you become perfect in Christ Jesus. — History of 
the Church, Vol. 3, p. 381. 

Revelation, Who Entitled to Receive — We 
do not consider ourselves bound to receive any 
revelation from any one man or woman with- 
out his being legally constituted and ordained to 
that authority, and giving sufficient proof of it. 

I will inform you that it is contrary to the 
economy of God for any member of the Church, 
or any one, to receive instruction for those in 
authority, higher than themselves ; therefore 
you will see the impropriety of giving heed to 
them ; but if any person have a vision or a vis- 



144 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

itation from a heavenly messenger, it must be 
for his own benefit and instruction; for the 
fundamental principles, government, and doc- 
trine of the Church are vested in the keys of the 
kingdom. — History of the Church, Vol. 1, p. 
338. 

Revelation the Rock on which Christ's 
Church is to be Built. — Jesus says, "Upon this 
rock I will build my Church, and the gates of 
hell shall not prevail against it." What rock? 
Revelation. — History of the Church, Vol. 5, 
p. 258. 

Sacrifice Required of those who would At- 
tain to Greatest Reward — The sacrifice re- 
quired of Abraham in the offering up of Isaac, 
shows that if a man w r ould attain to the keys 
of the kingdom of an endless life, he must sac- 
rifice all things. — History of the Church, Vol. 
5, p. 555. 

Saints and Sectarians, Difference Between — 

Had a pleasant interview with Mr. Butterfield, 
Judge Douglas, Senator Gillespie, and others. 
' In reply to Mr. Butterfield, I stated that the 
most prominent difference in sentiment be- 
tween the Latter-day Saints and sectarians was, 
that the latter were all circumscribed by some 
peculiar creed, which deprived its members the 
privilege of believing anything not contained 
therein, whereas the Latter-day Saints have no 
creed, but are ready to believe all true princi- 
ples that exist, as they are made manifest from 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 145 

time to time. — History of the Church, Vol. 5, 
p. 215. 

Salvation of Children — The doctrine of bap- 
tizing children, or sprinkling them, or they 
must welter in hell, is a doctrine not true, not 
supported in Holy Writ, and is not consistent 
with the character of God. All children are re- 
deemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and the 
moment that children leave this world, they are 
taken to the bosom of Abraham. The only dif- 
ference between the old and young dying is, 
one lives longer in heaven and eternal light and 
glory than the other, and is freed a little sooner 
from this miserable, wicked world. Notwith- 
standing all this glory, we for a moment lose 
sight of it, and mourn the loss, but we do not 
mourn as those without hope. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 4, p. 554. 

Salvation, Means of- — And now what remains 
to be done, under circumstances like these? 
I will proceed to tell you what the Lord re- 
quires of all people, high and low, rich and 
poor, male and female, ministers and people, 
professors of religion and non-professors, in 
order that they may enjoy the Holy Spirit of 
God to a fullness, and escape the judgments of 
God, which are almost ready to burst upon the 
nations of the earth. Repent of all your sins, 
and be baptized in water for the remission of 
them, in the name of the Father, and of the 
Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and receive the 
ordinance of the laying on of the hands of him 



146 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

who is ordained and sealed unto this power, 
that ye may receive the Holy Spirit of God; 
and this is according to the Holy Scriptures, 
and the Book of Mormon ; and the only way 
that man can enter into the celestial kingdom. 
These are the requirements of the new cove- 
nant, or first principles of the Gospel of Christ : 
then "Add to your faith, virtue ; and to virtue, 
knowledge ; and to knowledge, temperance ; 
and to temperance, patience ; and to patience, 
godliness ; and to godliness, brotherly kindness ; 
and to brotherly kindness, charity [or love] ; 
for if these things be in you, and abound, they 
make you that ye shall neither be barren nor un- 
fruitful, in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus 
Christ."— History of the Church, Vol. 1, p. 314. 

Salvation, Meaning of — Salvation means a 
man's being placed beyond the power. of all his 
enemies. — History of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 
392. 

Salvation and Education — The more sure 
word of prophecy means a man's knowing that 
he is sealed up unto eternal life by revelation 
and the spirit of prophecy, through the power 
of the holy priesthood. It is impossible for a 
man to be saved in ignorance. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 5, p. 392. 

Salvation is for a man to be saved from all 
his enemies ; for until a man can triumph over 
death, he is not saved. A knowledge of the 
priesthood alone will do this. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 5, p. 403. 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 147 

Salvation Through Knowledge — It is not 

wisdom that we should have all knowledge at 
once presented before us{; but that we should 
have a little at a time ; then we can comprehend 
it. President Smith then read the 2nd Epistle 
of Peter, 1st chapter, 16th to last verses, and 
dwelt upon the 19th verse with some remarks. 

Add to your faith knowledge, &c. The prin- 
ciple of knowledge is the principle of salvation. 
This principle can be comprehended by the faith- 
ful and diligent; and every one that does not 
obtain knowledge sufficient to be saved will be 
condemned. The principle of salvation is given 
us through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

Salvation is nothing more nor less than to 
triumph over all our enemies and put them un- 
der our feet. And when we have power to put 
all enemies under our feet in this world, and a 
knowledge to triumph over all evil spirits in the 
world to come, then we are saved, as in the case 
of Jesus, who was to reign until He had put all 
enemies under His feet, and the last enemy was 
death. 

Perhaps there are principles here that few 
men have thought of. No person can have this 
salvation except through a tabernacle. 

Now, in this world, mankind are naturally self- 
ish, ambitious and striving to excel one above an- 
other ; yet some are willing to build up others as 
well as themselves. So in the other world there 
are a variety of spirits. Some seek to excel. And 
this was the case with Lucifer when he fell. He 
sought for things which were unlawful, Hence 



148 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

he was sent down, and it is said he drew many 
away with him ; and the greatness of his pun- 
ishment is that he shall not have a tabernacle. 
This is his punishment. So the devil, thinking 
to thwart the decree of God, by going up and 
down in the earth, seeking whom he may de- 
stroy — any person that he can find that will 
yield to him, he will bind him, and take posses- 
sion of the body and reign there, glorying in 
it mightily, not caring that he had got merely 
a stolen body ; and by-and-by some one having 
authority will come along and cast him out and 
restore the tabernacle to its rightful owner. 
The devil steals a tabernacle because he has not 
one of his own : but if he steals one, he is al- 
ways liable to be turned out of doors. 

Now, there is some grand secret here, and 
keys to unlock the subject. Notwithstanding 
the apostle exhorts them to add to their faith, 
virtue, knowledge, temperance, &c., yet he ex- 
horts them to make their calling and election 
sure. And though they had heard an audible 
voice from heaven bearing testimony that Jesus 
was the Son of God, yet he says we have a more 
sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well 
that ye take heed as unto a light shining in a 
dark place. Now, wherein could they have a 
more sure word of prophecy than to hear the 
voice of God saying, This is my beloved Son, 
&c. 

Now for the secret and grand key. Though 
they might hear the voice of God and know 
that Jesus was the Son of God,- this would be 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 149 

no evidence that their election and calling was 
made sure, that they had part with Christ, and 
were joint heirs with Him. They then would 
want that more sure word of prophecy, that 
they were sealed in the heavens and had the 
promise of eternal life in the Kingdom of God. 
Then, having this promise sealed unto them, it 
was an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast. 
Though the thunders might roll and lightnings 
flash, and earthquakes bellow, and war gather 
thick around, yet this hope and knowledge 
would support the soul in every hour of trial, 
trouble and tribulation. Then knowledge 
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is 
the grand key that unlocks the glories and 
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. 

Compare this principle once with Christen- 
dom at the present day, and where are they, with 
all their boasted religion, piety and sacredness 
while at the same time they are crying out 
against prophets, apostles, angels, revelations, 
prophesying and visions, &c. Why, they are 
just ripening for the damnation of hell. They 
will be damned, for they reject the most glor- 
ious principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and 
treat with disdain and trample under foot the 
key that unlocks the heavens and puts in our 
possession the glories of the celestial world. 
Yes, I say, such will be damned, with all their 
professed godliness. Then I would exhort you 
to go on and continue to call upon God until 
you make your calling and election sure for 
yourselves, by obtaining this more sure word 



150 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

of prophecy, and wait patiently for the promise 
until you obtain it. — History of the Church Vol. 
5, p. 387. 

Salvation Through Obedience to God — To 

get salvation we must not only do some things, 
but everything which God has commanded. 
Men may preach and practice everything ex- 
cept those things which God commands us to 
do, and will be damned at last. We may tithe 
mint and rue, and all manner of herbs, and still 
not obey the commandments of God. The ob- 
ject with me is to obey and teach others to 
obey God in just what He tells us to do. It 
mattereth not whether the principle is popular 
or unpopular, I will always maintain a true 
principle, even if I stand alone in it. — History 
of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 223. 

Salvation for the Dead — My text is on the 
resurrection of the dead, which you will find in 
the 14th chapter of John — "In my Father's 
house are many mansions." It should be "In 
my Fathers kingdom are many kingdoms," in 
order that ye may be heirs of God and joint- 
heirs with me. I do not believe the Methodist 
doctrine of sending honest men and noble- 
minded men to hell, along with the murderer 
and the adulterer. They may hurl all their hell 
and fiery billows upon me, for they will roll off 
me as fast as they come on. But I have an or- 
der of things to save the poor fellows at any 
rate, and get them saved ; for I will send men to 
preach to them in prison and save them if I can. 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 151 

There are mansions for those who obey a ce- 
lestial law, and there are other mansions for 
those who come short of the law, every man in 
his own order. There is baptism, &c, for those 
to exercise who are alive, and baptism for the 
dead who die without the knowledge of the 
Gospel. 

I am going on in my progress for eternal life. 
It is not only necessary that you should be bap- 
tized for your dead, but you will have to go 
through all the ordinances for them, the same 
as you have gone through to save yourselves. 
There will be 144,000 saviors on Mount Zion, 
and with them an innumerable host that no man 
can number. Oh ! I beseech you to go for- 
ward, go forward and make your calling and 
your election sure ; and if any man preach any 
other Gospel than that which I have preached, 
he shall be cursed ; and some of you who now 
hear me shall see it, and know that I testify the 
truth concerning them. 

In regard to the law of the priesthood, there- 
should be a place where all nations shall come 
up from time to time to receive their endow- 
ments ; and the Lord has said this shall be the 
place for the baptisms for the dead. Every man 
that has been baptized and belongs to the king- 
dom has a right to be baptized for those who 
have gone before ; and as soon as the law of the 
Gospel is obeyed here by their friends who act 
as proxy for them, the Lord has administrators 
there to set them free. 

A man may act as proxy for his own rel- 



152 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

atives ; the ordinances of the Gospel which were 
laid out before the foundation of the world 
have thus been fulfilled by them, and we may- 
be baptized for those whom we have much 
friendship for; but it must first be revealed to 
the man of God, lest we should run too far. 
"As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall 
all be made alive." All shall be raised from 
the dead. The Lamb of God hath brought to 
pass the resurrection, so that all shall rise 
from the dead. — History of the Church, Vol. 6, 
p. 365. 

Salvation for the Dead — There is never a time 
when the spirit is too old to approach God. All 
are within the reach of pardoning mercy, who 
have not committed the unpardonable sin, 
which hath no forgiveness, neither in this 
world, nor in the world to come. There is a 
way to release the spirits of the dead; that is 
by the power and authority of the Priesthood — 
by binding and loosing on earth. This doctrine 
appears glorious, inasmuch as it exhibits the 
greatness of divine compassion, and benevo- 
lence in the extent of the plan of human salva- 
tion. 

This glorious truth is well calculated to en- 
large the understanding, and to sustain the soul 
under troubles, difficulties and distresses. For 
illustration, suppose the case of two men, 
brothers, equally intelligent, learned, virtuous 
and lovely, walking in uprightness and in all 
good conscience, so far as they have been able 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 153 

to discern duty from the muddy stream of tra- 
dition, or from the blotted page of the book of 
nature. 

One dies and is buried, having never heard 
the Gospel of reconciliation; to the other the 
message of salvation is sent, he hears and em- 
braces it, and is made the heir of eternal life. 
Shall the one become the partaker of glory and 
the other be consigned to hopeless perdition? 
Is there no chance for his escape? Sectarian- 
ism answers "none." Such an idea is worse 
than atheism. The truth shall break down and 
dash in pieces all such bigoted Pharisaism ; the 
sects shall be sifted, the honest in heart brought 
out, and their priests left in the midst of their 
corruption. * * * 

This doctrine presents in a clear light the 
wisdom and mercy of God in preparing an or- 
dinance for the salvation of the dead, being 
baptized by proxy, their names recorded in 
heaven and they judged according to the deeds 
done in the body. This doctrine was the burd- 
en of the scriptures. Those Saints who neg- 
lect it in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it 
at the peril of their own salvation. The dis- 
pensation of the fullness of times will bring to 
light the things that have been revealed in all 
former dispensations ; also other things that 
have not been before revealed. He shall send 
Elijah, the Prophet, &c, and restore all things 
in Christ. History of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 425. 

Salvation for the Dead — See Baptism for the 
Dead. 



154 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

Scripture Correction — "The Spirit maketh in- 
tercession for us with groanings and cannot be 
uttered." It would be better thus :— "The Spir- 
it maketh intercession for us with striving 
which cannot be expressed." — History of the 
Church, Vol. 5, p. 264. 

The 7th verse of the 2nd chapter of Genesis 
ought to read — God breathed into Adam his 
spirit [i. e. Adam's spirit] or breath of life; but 
when the word "rauch" applies to Eve, it 
should be translated jlives. — History of H:he 
Church, Vol. 5, p. 392. 

Genesis 6:6, "It repented the Lord that he 
had made man on the earth;" also Numbers 
23:19, "God is not a man that he should lie; 
neither the son of man that he should repent ;" 
which I do not believe. But it ought to read, 
"It repented Noah that God made man." This 
I believe, and then the other quotation stands 
fair. — History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 57. 

The first principles of the gospel, as I be- 
lieve, are faith, repentance, baptism for the re- 
mission of sins, with the promise of the Holy 
Ghost. Look at Hebrews 6:1 for contradic- 
tions — "Therefore leaving the principles of the 
doctrines of Christ, let us go on unto perfec- 
tion." If man leaves the principles of the doc- 
trine of Christ how can he be saved in the 
principles? This is a contradiction, I don't 
believe it. I will render it as it should be — 
"Therefore not leaving the principles of the 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 155 

doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection/' 
— History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 57. 

Jesus said, "There are many mansions in my 
Father's house, and I will go and prepare a 
place for you." "House" here named should 
have been translated kingdom; and any person 
who is exalted to the highest mansion has to 
abide a celestial law, and the whole law too. — 
History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 184. 

The Bible says, "I will send you Elijah the 
Prophet before the coming of the great and 
dreadful day of the Lord ; and he shall turn the 
hearts of the fathers to the children, and the 
hearts of the children to the fathers, lest I 
come and smite the earth with a curse." 
Now, the word "turn" here should be trans- 
lated "bind" or "seal."— History of the Church, 
Vol. 6, p. 183. 

Scripture Explanation — Elder Jedediah M. 
Grant enquired of me the cause of my turning 
pale -and losing strength last night while bless- 
ing children. I told him that I saw that Luci- 
fer would exert his influence to destroy the chil- 
dren that I was blessing, and I strove with all 
the faith and spirit that I had to seal upon 
them a blessing that would secure their lives 
upon the earth ; and so much virtue went out of 
me into the children, that I became weak, from 
which I have not yet recovered ; and I referred 
to the case of the woman touching the hem of 
the garment of Jesus. (Luke 8th chapter.) 
The virtue here referred to is the spirit of life ; 



156 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

and a man who exercises great faith in admin- 
istering to the sick, blessing little children, or 
confirming, is liable to become weakened. — 
History of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 303. 

Scriptures Expounded — The subject I in- 
tend to speak upon this morning is one that I 
have seldom touched upon since I commenced 
my ministry in the Church. It is a subject of 
great speculation, as well amongst the elders of 
this Church, as amongst the divines of the day : 
it is in relation to the beasts spoken of by John 
the Revelator. I have seldom spoken from the 
revelations; but as my subject is a constant 
source of speculation amongst the elders, caus- 
ing a division of sentiment and opinion in re- 
lation to it, I now do it in order that division 
and difference of opinion may be done away 
with, and not that correct knowledge on the 
subject is so much needed at the present time. 

It is not very essential for the elders to have 
knowledge in relation to the meaning of beasts, 
and heads and horns, and other figures made 
use of in the revelations ; still, it may be neces- 
sary, to prevent contention and division and do 
away with suspense. If we get puffed up by 
thinking that we have much knowledge, we are 
apt to get a contentious spirit, and correct 
knowledge is necessary to cast out that spirit. 

The evil of being puffed up with correct 
(though useless) knowledge is not so great as 
the evil of contention. Knowledge does away 
with darkness, suspense and doubt; for these 
cannot exist where knowledge is. 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 157 

There is no pain so awful as that of suspense. 
This is the punishment of the wicked; their 
doubt, anxiety and suspense cause weeping, 
wailing and gnashing of teeth. 

In knowledge there is power. God has more 
power than all other beings, because He has 
greater knowledge; and hence He knows how 
to subject all other beings to Him. He has 
power over all. 

I will endeavor to instruct you in relation to 
the meaning of the beasts and figures spoken 
of. I should not have called up the subject had 
it not been for this circumstance : Elder Pela- 
tiah Brown, one of the wisest old heads we 
have among us, and whom I now see before me, 
has been preaching concerning the beast which 
was full of eyes before and behind ; and for this 
he was hauled up for trial before the High 
Council. 

I did not like the old man being called up for 
erring in doctrine. It looks too much like the 
Methodist, and not like the Latter-day Saints. 
Methodists have creeds which a man must be- 
lieve or be asked out of their church. I want 
the liberty of thinking and believing as I please. 
It feels so good not to be trammelled. It does 
not prove that a man is not a good man be- 
cause he errs in doctrine. 

The High Council undertook to censure and 
correct Elder Brown, because of his teachings 
in relation to the beasts. Whether they actu- 
ally corrected him or not, I am a little doubt- 



158 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

ful, but don't care. Father Brown came to me 
to know what he should do about it. The sub- 
ject particularly referred to was the four beasts 
and four-and-twenty elders mentioned in Rev. 
5 :8 — "And when he had taken the book, the 
four beasts and four-and-twenty elders fell 
down before the Lamb, having every one of 
them harps, and golden vials full of odors, 
which are the prayers of saints." 

Father Brown has been to work and con- 
founded all Christendom by making out that 
the four beasts represented the different king- 
doms of God on the earth. The wise men of 
the day could not do anything with him, and 
why should we find fault? Anything to whip 
sectarianism, to put down priestcraft, and bring 
the human family to a knowledge of the truth. 
A club is better than no weapon for a poor man 
to fight with. 

Father Brown did whip sectarianism, and so 
far so good; but I could not help laughing at 
the idea of God making use of the figure of a 
beast to represent His kingdom on the earth, 
consisting of men, when He could as well have 
used a far more noble and consistent figure. 
What! the Lord make use of the figure of a 
creature of the brute creation to represent that 
which is much more noble, glorious, and impor- 
tant — the glories and majesty of His kingdom? 
By taking a lesser figure to represent a greater, 
you missed it that time, old gentleman ; but the 
sectarians did not know enough to detect you. 



Joseph smith's teachings. 159 

When God made use of the figure of a beast 
in visions to the prophets He did it to represent 
those kingdoms which had degenerated and be- 
come corrupt, savage and beast-like in their 
dispositions, even the degenerate kingdoms of 
the wicked world; but He never made use of 
the figure of a beast nor any of the brute kind 
to represent His kingdom. 

I am now going to take exceptions to the 
present translation of the Bible in relation to 
these matters. Our latitude and longitude can 
be determined in the original Hebrew with far 
greater accuracy than in the English version. 
There is a grand distinction between the actual 
meaning of the prophets and the present trans- 
lation. The prophets do not declare that they 
saw a beast or beasts, but that they saw the 
"image" or "figure" of a beast. Daniel did not 
see an actual bear or a lion, but the images or 
figures of those beasts. The translation should 
have been rendered "image" instead of "beast," 
in every instance where beasts are mentioned 
by the prophets. But John saw the actual beast 
in heaven, showing to John that beasts did ac- 
tually exist there, and not to represent figures 
of things on the earth. When the prophets 
speak of seeing beasts in their visions, they 
mean that they saw the images, they being 
types to represent certain things. At the same 
time they received the interpretation as to what 
those images or types were designed to repre- 
sent. 

I make this broad declaration, that whenever 



160 joseph smith's teachings. 

God gives a vision of an image, or beast, or fig- 
ure of any kind, He always holds Himself re- 
sponsible to give a revelation or interpretation 
of the meaning thereof, otherwise we are not 
responsible or accountable for our belief in it. 
Don't be afraid of being damned for not know- 
ing the meaning of a vision or figure, if God has 
not given a revelation or interpretation of the 
subject. * * * 

Oh, ye elders of Israel, harken to my voice ; 
and when you are sent into the world to preach, 
tell those things you are sent to tell; preach 
and cry aloud, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of 
heaven is at hand ; repent and believe the Gos- 
pel." Declare the first principles, and let mys- 
teries alone, lest ye be overthrown. Never 
meddle with the visions of beasts and subjects 
you do not understand. Elder Brown, when 
you go to Palmyra, say nothing about the four 
beasts, but preach those things the Lord has 
told you to preach about — repentance and bap- 
tism for the remission of sins. * * — His- 
tory of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 339. 

At one p. m., attended meeting, I read the 
Sth chapter of Revelation, referring particularly 
to the 6th verse, showing from that the actual 
existence of beasts in heaven. Probably those 
were beasts which had lived on another planet, 
and not ours. God never made use of the fig- 
ure of a beast to represent the kingdom of 
heaven. When it is made use of, it is to rep- 
resent an apostate church. This is the first 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 161 

time I have ever taken a text in Revelation ; 
and if the young Elders would let such things 
alone it would be far better. * * * 

At seven o'clock meeting, I resumed the sub- 
ject of the beast, and showed very plainly that 
John's vision was very different from Daniel's 
prophecy — one referring to things actually ex- 
isting in heaven ; the other being a figure of 
things which are on earth. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 5, p. 324. 

Self-Righteousness Reproved — I do not think 
there have been many good men on the earth 
since the days of Adam ; but there was one 
good man and his name was Jesus. Many per- 
sons think a prophet must be a great deal bet- 
ter than anybody else. Suppose I would con- 
descend, yes, I will call it condescend to be a 
great deal better than any of you, I would be 
raised up to the highest heaven; and who 
should I have to accompany me? 

I love that man better who swears a stream 
as long as my arm yet deals justice to his neigh- 
bors and mercifully deals his substance to the 
poor, than the long, smooth-faced hypocrite. 

I do not want you to think that I am very 
righteous, for I am not. God judges men ac- 
cording to the use they make of the light which 
He gives them. — History of the Church, Vol. 
5, p. 401. 

Seventies, Calling of — The Seventies are to 
constitute traveling quorums, to go into all the 



162 joseph smith's teachings. 

earth, whithersoever the Twelve Apostles shall 
call them. — History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 
202. 

Seventies, Duty and Rights of — If the first 
Seventy are all employed, and there is a call for 
more laborers, it will be the duty of the seven 
presidents of the first Seventy to call and or- 
dain other Seventy and send them forth to la- 
bor in the vineyard, until, if needs be, they set 
apart seven times seventy, and even until there 
are one hundred and forty-four thousand thus 
set apart for the ministry. 

The Seventy are not to attend the confer- 
ences of the Twelve, unless they are called up- 
on or requested so to do by the Twelve. The 
Twelve and the Seventy have particularly to 
depend upon their ministry for their support, 
and that of their families ; and they have a 
right, by virtue of their offices, to call upon 
the churches to assist them. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 2, p. 221. 

Sign of the Son of Man — Among the many 
signs of the times and other strange things 
which are continually agitating the minds of 
men, I notice a small speculation in the "Chi- 
cago Express," upon the certificate of one Hy- 
rum Redding, of Ogle county, Illinois, stating 
that he has seen the sign of the Son of Man 
as foretold in the 24th chapter of Matthew. 
* * Mr. Redding may have seen a wonderful 
appearance in the clouds one morning about 
sunrise (which is nothing very uncommon in 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 163 

the winter season,) he has not seen the sign 
of the Son of Man, as foretold by Jesus ; neither 
has any man, nor will any man, until after the 
sun shall have been darkened and the moon 
bathed in blood; for the Lord hath not shown 
me any such sign ; and as the prophet saith, so 
it must be — "Surely the Lord God will do noth- 
ing, but He revealeth His secret unto His ser- 
vants the prophets." (See Amos 3 :7.) There- 
fore hear this, O earth : The Lord will not 
come to reign over the righteous, in this world, 
in 1843, nor until everything for the Bride- 
groom is ready. — History of the Church, Vol. 
5, p. 290. 

Sign Seekers — When I was preaching in 
Philadelphia, a Quaker called out for a sign. 
I told him to be still. After the sermon, he 
again asked for a sign. I told the congregation 
the man was an adulterer; that a wicked and 
adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; 
and that the Lord had said to me in a revela- 
tion, that any man who wanted a sign was an 
adulterous person. "It is true/' cried one, "for 
I caught him in the very act," which the man 
afterwards confessed, when he was baptized. — 
History of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 268. 

Sinning Wilfully — If men sin wilfully after 
they have received the knowledge of the truth, 
there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, but 
a certain fearful looking for of judgment and 
fiery indignation to come. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 3, p. 232. 



164 Joseph smith's teachings. 

Sons of Perdition — See Devil and his Angels. 

Spirit and Body, Difference Between — In 

tracing the thing to the foundation, and look- 
ing at it philosophically, we shall find a very 
material difference between the body and the 
spirit; the body is supposed to be organized 
matter, and the spirit, by many, is thought 
to be immaterial, without substance. With 
this latter statement we should beg leave to 
differ, and state that spirit is a substance ; that 
it is material, but that it is more pure, elastic 
and refined matter than the body; that it 
existed before the body, can exist in the body; 
and will exist separate from the body, when the 
body will be mouldering in the dust; and will 
in the resurrection, be again united with it. — 
History of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 575. 

Spirit, a Bad — It is in vain to try to hide a 
bad spirit from the eyes of them who are spir- 
itual, for it will show itself in speaking and in 
writing, as well as in all our other conduct. It 
is also needless to make great pretensions when 
the heart is not right; the Lord will expose it 
to the view of His faithful Saints. — History of 
the Church, Vol. 1, p. 317. 

Spirit of Elias — See Elias. 

Spirit and Matter— See Matter. 

Spirits and Angels — An angel of God never 
has wings. Some will say that they have seen 
a spirit ; that he offered them his hand, but they 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 165 

did not touch it. This is a lie. First, it is con- 
trary to the plan of God : a spirit cannot come 
but in glory ; an angel has flesh and bones ; we 
see not their glory. The devil may appear as 
an angel of light. Ask God to reveal it; if it 
be of the devil, he will flee from you ; if of God, 
He will manifest Himself, or make it mani- 
fest. We may come to Jesus and ask Him ; He 
will know all about it; if He comes to a little 
child, He will adapt Himself to the language 
and capacity of a little child. 

Every spirit, or vision, or singing, is not of 
God. The devil is an orator; he is powerful; 
he took our Savior on to a pinnacle of the Tem- 
ple, and kept Him in the wilderness for forty 
days. The gift of discerning spirits will be 
given to the Presiding Elder. Pray for him 
that he may have this gift. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 3, p. 392. 

Spirits can only be revealed in flaming fire or 
glory. Angels have advanced further, their 
light and glory being tabernacled; and hence 
they appear in bodily shape. The spirits of 
just men are made ministering servants to 
those who are sealed unto life eternal, and it 
is through them that the sealing power comes 
down. * * * 

Jesus showed Himself to His disciples, and 
they thought it was His Spirit, and they were 
afraid to approach His spirit. Angels have 
advanced higher in knowledge and power than 
spirits. * * * 



166 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

The spirits of the just are exalted to a greater 
and more glorious work; hence they are blest 
in their departure to the world of spirits. En- 
veloped in flaming fire, they are not far from 
us, and know and understand our thoughts, 
feelings, and motions, and are often pained 
therewith. 

Flesh and blood cannot go there; but flesh 
and bones, quickened by the Spirit of God 
can. — History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 51. 

Spirits, Character of — The spirits in the eter- 
nal world are like the spirits in this world. 
When those have come into this world and 
received tabernacles, then died and again have 
risen and received glorified bodies, they will 
have an ascendency over the spirits who have 
received no bodies, or kept not their first es- 
tate, like the devil. The punishment of the 
devil was that he should not have a habitation 
like men. The devil's retaliation is, he comes 
into this world, binds up men's bodies, and oc- 
cupies them himself. When the authorities 
come along, they eject him from a stolen hab- 
itation. — History of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 403. 

Spirit of Man Eternal — The spirit of man is 
not a created being ; it existed from eternity, and 
will exist to eternity. Anything created can- 
not be eternal ; and earth, water, etc., had their 
existence in an elementary state from eternity. 
—History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 387. 

Spirits in Prison — I will say something about 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 167 

the spirits in prison. There has been much 
said by modern divines about the words of 
Jesus (when on the cross) to the thief, saying, 
"This day shalt thou be with me in paradise." 
* * * * Find the origin of the word para- 
dise. * * * There is nothing in the original 
word in Greek from which this was taken that 
signifies paradise; but it was — This day thou 
shalt be with me in the world of spirits: then 
I will teach you all about it and answer your 
inquiries." And Peter says He went and 
preached to the world of spirits (spirits in 
prison, I Peter, 3rd chap., 19th verse), so that 
they who would receive it could have it an- 
swered by proxy by those who live on the 
earth. — History of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 424. 

Spirits to be Tested — Recent occurrences 
that have transpired amongst us render it an 
imperative duty devolving upon me to say 
something in relation to the spirits by which 
men are actuated. 

It is evident from the Apostles' writings, that 
many false spirits existed in their day, and had 
"gone forth into the world," and that it needed 
intelligence which God alone could impart to 
detect false spirits, and to prove what spirits 
were of God. The world in general have been 
grossly ignorant in regard to this one thing, 
and why should they be otherwise — "for no 
man knows the things of God, but by the Spirit 
of God." * * * * 

One great evil is, that men are ignorant of the 



168 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

nature of spirits; their power, laws, govern- 
ment, intelligence, &c, and imagine that when 
there is anything like power, revelation, or vis- 
ion manifested, that it must be of God. Hence 
the Methodists, Presbyterians, and others fre- 
quently possess a spirit that will cause them to 
lie down, and during its operation, animation 
is frequently entirely suspended ; they consider 
it to be the power of God, and a glorious man- 
ifestation from God — a manifestation of what? 
Is there any intelligence communicated? Are 
the curtains of heaven withdrawn, or the pur- 
poses of God developed? Have they seen and 
conversed with an angel — or have the glories 
of futurity burst upon their view? No! but 
their body has been inanimate, the operation of 
their spirit suspended, and all the intelligence 
that can be obtained from them when they 
arise, is a shout of "glory," or "hallelujah," or 
some incoherent expression ; but they have had 
"the power." 

The Shaker will whirl around on his heel, 
impelled by a supernatural agency or spirit, and 
think that he is governed by the Spirit of God; 
and the Jumper will jump and enter into all 
kinds of extravagances. A Primitive Methodist 
will shout under the influence of that spirit, 
until he will rend the heavens with his cries; 
while the Quakers (or Friends) moved as they 
think, by the Spirit of God, will sit still and say 
nothing. Is God the author of all this? If not 
of all of it, which does He recognize? Surely, 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 169 

such a heterogeneous mass of confusion never 
can enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

Every one of these professes to be compe- 
tent to try his neighbor's spirit, but no one can 
try his own, and what is the reason? Because 
they have not a key to unlock, no rule where- 
with to measure, and no criterion whereby they 
can test it. Could any one tell the length, 
breadth or height of a building without a rule? 
test the quality of metals without a criterion, 
or point out the movements of the planetary 
systems, without a knowledge of astronomy? 
Certainly not; and if such ignorance as this is 
manifested about a spirit of this kind, who can 
describe an angel of light? If Satan should ap- 
pear as one in glory, who can tell his color, his 
signs, his appearance, his glory? — or what is 
the manner of his manifestation ? Who can de- 
tect the spirit of the French prophets with their 
revelations and their visions, and power of 
manifestations ? Or who can point out the spir- 
it of the Irvingites, with their apostles and 
prophets, and visions and tongues, and inter- 
pretations, &c. Or who can drag into daylight 
and develop the hidden mysteries of the false 
spirits that so frequently are made manifest 
among the Latter-day Saints ? We answer that 
no man can do this without the Priesthood, and 
having a knowledge of the laws by which spir- 
its are governed; for as "no man knows the 
things of God, but by the Spirit of God," so 
no man knows the spirit of the devil, and 
his power and influence, but by possessing 

12 



170 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

intelligence which is more than human, and 
having unfolded through the medium of the 
Priesthood the mysterious operations of his 
devices; without knowing the angelic form, 
the sanctified look and gesture, and the zeal 
that is frequently manifested by him for the 
glory of God, together with the prophetic 
spirit, the gracious influence, the godly appear- 
ance, and the holy garb, which are so character- 
istic of his proceedings and his mysterious 
windings. * * * * 

A man must have the discerning of spirits, as 
we before stated, to understand these things, and 
how is he to obtain this gift if there are no gifts 
of the Spirit? And how can these gifts be ob- 
tained without revelation? "Christ ascended 
into heaven, and gave gifts to men ; and He gave 
some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some 
Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers. 
And how were Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, 
Teachers and Evangelists chosen? By proph- 
ecy (revelation) and by laying on of hands : — 
by a divine communication, and a divinely ap- 
pointed ordinance — through the medium of the 
Priesthood, organized according to the order of 
God, by divine appointment. The Apostles in 
ancient times held the keys of this Priesthood 
— of the mysteries of the kingdom of God, and 
consequently were enabled to unlock and un- 
ravel all things pertaining to the government of 
the Church, the welfare of society, the future 
destiny of men, and the agency, power and in- 
fluence of spirits; for they could control them 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 171 

at pleasure, bid them depart in the name of 
Jesus, and detect their mischievous and mys- 
terious operations when trying to palm them- 
selves upon the Church in a religious garb, and 
militate against the interest of the Church and 
spread of truth. We read that they "cast out 
devils in the name of Jesus," and when a wom- 
an possessing the spirit of divination, cried be- 
fore Paul and Silas, "these are the servants of 
the Most High God that show unto us the way 
of salvation/' they detected the spirit. And al- 
though she spake favorably of them, Paul com- 
manded the spirit to come out of her, and saved 
themselves from the opprobrium that might 
have been heaped upon their heads, through an 
alliance with her, in the development of her 
wicked principles, which they certainly would 
have been charged with, if they had not re- 
buked the evil spirit. 

A power similar to this existed through the 
medium of the Priesthood in different ages. 
Moses could detect the magician's power, and 
show that he [himself] was God's servant — 
he knew when he was upon the mountain 
(through revelation) that Israel was engaged 
in idolatry ; he could develop the sin of Korah, 
Dathan and Abiram, detect witches and wiz- 
ards in their proceedings, and point out the 
true prophets of the Lord. Joshua knew how 
to detect the man who had stolen the wedge of 
gold and the Babylonish garment. Michaiah 
could point out the false spirit by which the 
four hundred prophets were governed; and if 



172 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

his advice had been taken, many lives would 
have been spared, (II Chronicles 18) Elijah, 
Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and many 
other prophets possessed this power. Our 
Savior/the Apostles, and even the members of 
the Church were endowed with this gift, for, 
says Paul, (I Corinthians 12), "To one is given 
the gift of tongues, to another the interpreta- 
tion of tongues, to another the working of mir- 
acles, to another prophecy, to another the dis- 
cerning of spirits." All these proceeded from 
the same Spirit of God, and were the gifts of 
God. The Ephesian church were enabled by 
this principle, "to try those that said they were 
apostles, and were not, and found them liars/' 
(Revelation 2:2). 

In tracing the thing to the foundation, and 
looking at it philosophically, we shall find a 
very material difference between the body and 
the spirit; the body is supposed to be organ- 
ized matter, and the spirit, by many, is thought 
to be immaterial, without substance. With 
this latter statement we should beg leave to 
differ, and state that spirit is a substance ; that 
it is material, but that it is more pure, elastic 
and refined . matter than the body ; thait it 
existed before the body, can exist in the body ; 
and will exist separate from the body, when the 
body will be mouldering in the dust; and will 
in the resurrection, be again united with it. 

Without attempting to describe this mys- 
terious connection, and the laws that govern 
the body and the spirit of man, their relation- 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 173 

ship to each other, and the design of God in re- 
lation to the human body and spirit, I would 
just remark, that the spirits of men are eternal, 
that they are governed by the same Priesthood 
that Abraham, Melchisedek, and the Apostles 
were : that they are organized according to that 
Priesthood which is everlasting, "without be- 
ginning of days or end of years," — that they 
all move in their respective spheres, and are 
governed by the law of God; that when they 
appear upon the earth they are in a probation- 
ary state, and are preparing, if righteous, for a 
future and greater glory; that the spirits of 
good men cannot interfere with the wicked be- 
yond their prescribed bounds, for "Michael, the 
Archangel, dared not bring a railing accusa- 
tion against the devil, but said, "The Lord re- 
buke thee, Satan." 

It would seem also, that wicked spirits have 
their bounds, limits, and laws by which they 
are governed or controlled, and know their fu- 
ture destiny; hence, those that were in the 
maniac said to our Savior, "Art thou come to 
torment us before the time," and when Satan 
presented himself before the Lord, among the 
sons of God, he said that he came "from go- 
ing to and fro in the earth, and from wander- 
ing up and down in it ;" and he is emphatically 
called the prince of the power of the air; and, 
it is very evident that they possess a power 
that none but those who have the Priesthood 
can control, as we have before adverted to, in 
the case of the sons of Sceva, * * * 



174 JOSEPH SMITH'S TEACHINGS. 

The "French Prophets" were possessed of a 
spirit that deceived; they existed in Vivaris 
and Dauphany, in great numbers in the year 
1688; there were many boys and girls from 
seven to twenty-five; they had strange fits, as 
in tremblings and faintings, which made them 
stretch out their legs and arms, as in a swoon ; 
they remained awhile in trances, and coming 
out of them, uttered all that came in their 
mouths [see Buck's Theological Dictionary]. 

Now God never had any prophets that acted 
in this way; there was nothing indecorous in 
the proceeding of the Lord's prophets in any 
age; neither had the apostles, nor prophets in 
the apostles' day anything of this kind. Paul 
says, "We may all prophesy, one by one; and 
if anything be revealed to another let the first 
hold his peace, for the spirit of the prophets 
is subject to the prophets;" but here we find 
that the prophets are subject to the spirit, and 
falling down, have twitchings, tumblings, and 
faintings through the influence of that spirit, 
being entirely under its control. Paul says, 
"Let everything be done decently and in or- 
der," but here we find the greatest disorder and 
indecency in the conduct of both men and wom- 
en, as above described. The same rule would 
apply to the fallings, twitchings, swoonings, 
shaking, and trances of many of our modern 
revivalists. 

Johanna Southcott professed to be a prophet- 
ess, and wrote a book of prophecies in 1804, she 
became the founder of a people that are still 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 175 

extant. She was to bring forth, in a place ap- 
pointed, a son, that was to be the Messiah^ 
which thing has failed. Independent of this, 
however, where do we read of a woman that 
was the founder of a church, in the word of 
God? Paul told the women in his day, "To 
keep silence in the church, and that if they 
wished to know anything to ask their husbands 
at home;" he would not suffer a woman "to 
rule, or to usurp authority in the church ;" but 
here we find a woman the founder of a church, 
the revelator and guide, the Alpha and Omega, 
contrary to all acknowledged rule, principle, 
and order. 

Jemimah Wilkinson was another prophetess 
that figured largely in America, in the last cen- 
tury. She stated that she was taken sick and 
died, and that her soul went to heaven, where 
it still continues. Soon after, her body was re- 
animated with the spirit and power of Christ, 
upon which she set up as a public teacher, and 
declared that she had an immediate revelation. 
Now the Scriptures positively assert that 
"Christ is the first fruit, afterwards those that 
are Christ's at His coming, then cometh the 
end." But Jemimah, according to her testi- 
mony, died, and rose again before the time 
mentioned in the Scriptures. The idea of her 
soul being in heaven while her body was [liv- 
ing] on earth, is also preposterous. When 
God breathed into man's nostrils, he became a 
living soul, before that he did not live, and 
when that was taken away his body died ; and 



176 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

so did our Savior when the spirit left the body, 
nor did His body live until His spirit returned 
in the power of His resurrection. But Mrs. 
Wilkinson's soul [life] was in heaven, and her 
body without the soul [or life] on earth, living 
[without the soul, or] without life! 

The Irvingites, are a people that have 
counterfeited the truth, perhaps the nearest of 
any of our modern sectarians. They com- 
menced about ten years ago in the city of 
London, in England; they have churches 
formed in various parts of England and Scot- 
land, and some few in Upper Canada. Mr. 
Irving, their founder, was a learned and tal- 
ented minister of the Church of Scotland, he 
was a great logician, and a powerful orator, 
but withal wild and enthusiastic in his views. 
Moving in the higher circles, and possessing 
talent and zeal, placed him in a situation to 
become a conspicuous character, and to raise 
up a society similar to that which is called 
after his name. 

The Irvingites have apostles, prophets, pas- 
tors, teachers, evangelists, and angels. They 
profess to have the gift of tongues, and the in- 
terpretation of tongues, and, in some few in- 
stances, to have the gift of healing. 

The first prophetic spirit that was manifested 
was in some Misses Campbell that Mr. Irving 
met with, while on a journey in Scotland; they 
had [what is termed among their sect] "ut- 
terances," which were evidently of a super- 
natural agency. Mr. Irving, falling into the com- 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 177 

mon error of considering all supernatural man- 
ifestations to be of God, took them to London 
with him, and introduced them into his church. 

They were there honored as the prophetesses 
of God, and when they spoke, Mr. Irving or 
any of his ministers had to keep silence. They 
were peculiarly wrought upon before the con- 
gregation, and had strange utterances, uttered 
with an unnatural, shrill voice, and with thrill- 
ing intonations they frequently made use of a 
few broken, unconnected sentences, that were 
ambiguous, incoherent, and incomprehensible; at 
other times they were more clearly understood. 
They would frequently cry out, "There is ini- 
quity! There is iniquity!" And Mr. Irving 
has been led, under the influence of this charge, 
to fall down upon his knees before the public 
congregation, and to confess his sin, not know- 
ing whether he had sinned, nor wherein, nor 
whether the thing referred to him, or some- 
body else. During these operations, the bodies 
of the persons speaking were powerfully 
wrought upon, their countenances were dis- 
torted, they had frequent twitchings in their 
hands, and the whole system was powerfully 
convulsed at intervals; they sometimes, how- 
ever, (it is supposed) spoke in correct tongues, 
and had true interpretations. 

Under the influence of this spirit the church 
was organized by these women; apostles, 
prophets, &c, were soon called, and a system- 
atic order of things introduced, as above men- 

13 



178 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

tioned. A Mr. Baxter (afterwards one of their 
principal prophets) upon going into one of 
their meetings, says, "I saw a power mani- 
fested, and thought that was the power of God, 
and asked that it might fall upon me, and it 
did so, and I began to prophesy." Eight or 
nine years ago they had about sixty preachers 
going through the streets of London, testify- 
ing that London was to be the place where the 
"two witnesses" spoken of by John, were to 
prophesy; that (they) "the Church and the 
spirit were the witnesses, and that at the end of 
three years and a half there was to be an earth- 
quake and great ., destruction, and our Savior 
was to come. Their apostles were collected to- 
gether at the appointed time watching the 
event, but Jesus did not come, and the proph- 
ecy was then ambiguously explained away. 
They frequently had signs given them by the 
spirit to prove to them that what was mani- 
fested to them should take place. Mr. Baxter 
related an impression that he had concerning a 
child. It was manifested to him that he should 
visit the child and lay hands upon it, and that it 
should be healed; and to prove to him that this 
was of God, he should meet his brother in a cer- 
tain place, who should speak unto him certain 
words. His brother addressed him precisely in 
the way and manner that the manifestation 
designated. The sign took place, but when he 
laid his hands upon the child it did not recover. 
I cannot vouch for the authority of the last 
statement, as Mr. Baxter at that time had left 






JOSEPH smith's teachings. 179 

the Irvingites, but it is in accordance with 
many of their proceedings, and the thing never 
has been attempted to be denied. 

It may be asked, where is there anything in 
all this that is wrong? 

1st. The Church was organized by women, 
and "God placed in the Church (first apostles, 
secondarily prophets), and not first women; 
but Mr. Irving placed in his church first wom- 
en (secondarily apostles, and the church was 
founded and organized by them. A woman 
has no right to found or organize a church — 
God never sent them to do it. 

2nd. Those women would speak in the 
midst of a meeting, and rebuke Mr. Irving or 
any of the church. Now the Scripture positive- 
ly says, "Thou shalt not rebuke an Elder, but 
entreat him as a father;" not only this, but 
they frequently accused the brethren, thus 
placing themselves in the seat of Satan, who 
is emphatically called "the accuser of the 
brethren. " 

3rd. Mr. Baxter received the spirit on ask- 
ing for it, without attending to the ordinances, 
and began to prophesy, whereas the scriptural 
way of attaining the gift of the Holy Ghost is by 
baptism, and by laying on of hands. 

4th. As we have stated in regard to others, 
the spirit of the prophets is subject to the 
prophets; but those prophets were subject to 
the spirits, the spirits controlling their bodies 
at pleasure. 

But it may be asked how Mr. Baxter could 



180 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

get a sign from a second person? To this we 
would answer, that Mr. Baxter's brother was 
under the influence of the same spirit himself, 
and being subject to that spirit he could be 
easily made to speak to Mr. Baxter whatever 
the spirit should dictate; but there was not 
power in the spirit to heal the child. 

Again it may be asked, how it was that they 
could speak in tongues if they were of the 
devil! We would answer that they could be 
made to speak in another tongue, as well as 
their own, as they were under the control of 
that spirit, and the devil can tempt the Hotten- 
tot, the Turk, the Jew, or any other nation ; and 
if these men were under the influence of his 
spirit, they of course could speak Hebrew, 
Latin, Greek, Italian, Dutch, or any other lan- 
guage that the devil knew. 

Some will say, "try the spirits" by the word. 
"Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ 
is come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit 
that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in 
the flesh is not of God." John 4:2, 3. One of 
the Irvingites once quoted the passage whilst 
under the influence of a spirit, and then said, 
"I confess that Jesus Christ is come in the 
flesh." And yet these prophecies failed, their 
Messiah did not come; and the great things 
spoken of by them have fallen to the ground. 
What is the matter here? Did not the Apos- 
tle speak the truth? Certainly he did — but he 
spoke to a people who were under the penalty 
of death, the moment they embraced Chris- 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 181 

tianity ; and no one without a knowledge of the 
fact would confess it, and expose themselves to 
death, and this was consequently given as a 
criterion to the church or churches to which 
John wrote. But the devil on a certain occa- 
sion cried out, "I know thee, who thou art, 
the Holy One of God !" Here was a frank ac- 
knowledgment under other circumstances that 
"Jesus had come in the flesh." On another oc- 
casion the devil said, "Paul we know, and Jesus 
we know" — of course, "come in the flesh." No 
man nor set of men without the regular consti- 
tuted authorities, the Priesthood and discern- 
ing of spirits, can tell true from false spirits. 
This power they possessed in the Apostles' 
day, but it has departed from the world for 
ages. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints has also had its false spirits; and as it 
is made up of all those different sects profess- 
ing every variety of opinion, and having been 
under the influence of so many kinds of spir- 
its, it is not to be wondered at if there should 
be found among us false spirits. 

Soon after the Gospel was established in 
Kirtland, and during the absence of the author- 
ities of the Church, many false spirits were 
introduced, many strange visions were seen, 
and wild, enthusiastic notions were enter- 
tained; men ran out of doors under the influ- 
ence of this spirit, and some of them got upon 
the stumps of trees and shouted, and all kinds 
of extravagances were entered into by them ; 
one man pursued a ball that he said he saw fly- 



182 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

ing in the air, until he came to a precipice, 
when he jumped into the top of a tree, which 
saved his life ; and many ridiculous things were 
entered into, calculated to bring disgrace upon 
the Church of God, to cause the Spirit of God 
to be withdrawn, and to uproot and destroy 
those glorious principles which had been de- 
veloped for the salvation of the human family. 
But when the authorities returned, the spirit 
was made manifest, those members that were 
exercised with it were tried for their fellow- 
ship, and those that would not repent and for- 
sake it were cut off. 

At a subsequent period a Shaker spirit was 
on the point of being introduced, and at an- 
other time the Methodist and Presbyterian 
falling down power, but the spirit was rebuked 
and put down, and those who would not submit 
to rule and good order were disfellowshiped. 
We have also had brethren and sisters who 
have had the gift of tongues falsely; they 
would speak in a muttering unnatural voice, 
and their bodies be distorted like the Irvingites 
before alluded to ; whereas, there is nothing un- 
natural in the Spirit of God. A circumstance 
of this kind took place in Upper Canada, but 
was rebuked by the presiding Elder; another, 
a woman near the same place, professed to 
have the discerning of spirits, and began to 
"accuse" another sister of things that she was 
not guilty of, which she said she knew was so 
by the spirit, but was afterwards proven to be 
false ; she placed herself in the capacity of the 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 183 

of the brethren," and no person 
through the discerning of spirits can bring a 
charge against another, they must be proven 
guilty by positive evidence, or they stand clear. 

There have also been ministering angels in 
the Church which were of Satan appearing as 
an angel of light. A sister in the state of New 
York had a vision, who said it was told her that 
if she would go to a certain place in the woods, 
an angel would appear to her. She went at 
the appointed time, and saw a glorious per- 
sonage descending, arrayed in white, with 
sandy colored hair; he commenced and told 
her to fear God, and said that her husband was 
called to do great things, but that he must not 
go more than one hundred miles from home, 
or he would not return; whereas God had 
called him to go to the ends of the earth, and 
he has since been more than one thousand 
miles from home, and is yet alive. Many true 
things were spoken by this personage, and 
many things that were false. How, it may be 
asked, was this known to be a bad angel? By 
the color of his hair; that is one of the signs 
that he can be known by, and by his contra- 
dicting a former revelation. 

We have also had brethren and sisters who 
have written revelations, and who have started 
forward to lead this Church/ Such was a young 
boy in Kirtland, Isaac Russell, of Missouri, and 
Gladden Bishop, and Oliver Olney of Nauvoo. 
The boy is now living with his parents who 
have submitted to the laws of the Church. Mr. 



184 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

Russell stayed in Far West, from whence he 
was to go to the Rocky Mountains, led by three 
Nephites; but the Nephites never came, and 
his friends forsook him, all but some of the 
blood relations, who have since been nearly 
destroyed by the mob. Mr. Bishop was tried 
by the High Council, his papers examined, 
condemned and burned, and he cut off the 
Church. He acknowledged the justice of the 
decision, and said "that he now saw his error, 
for if he had been governed by the revelations 
given before, he might have known that no 
man was to write revelations for the Church, 
but Joseph Smith," and begged to be prayed 
for, and forgiven by the brethren. Mr. Olney 
has also been tried by the High Council and 
disfellowshiped, because he would not have 
his writings tested by the word of God; evi- 
dently proving that he loves darkness rather 
than light, because his deeds are evil. — History of 
the Church, Vol. 4, p. 571. 

Spirits, The World of — There has been much 
said about the word hell, and the sectarian 
world have preached much about it, describing 
it to be a burning lake of fire and brimstone. 
But what is hell? It is another modern term, 
and is taken from hades. * * * Hades, the 
Greek, or Shaole, the Hebrew: these two sig- 
nifications mean a world of spirits. Hades, 
Shaole, paradise, spirits in prison are all one; 
and it is a world of spirits. 

The righteous and the wicked all go to the 
same world of spirits until the resurrection. 
* * * * 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 185 

The great misery of departed spirits in the 
world of spirits, where they go after death, is 
to know that they come short of the glory that 
others enjoy and that they might have enjoyed 
themselves; and they are their own accusers. 
"But," says one, "I believe in one universal 
heaven and hell, where all go, and are all alike, 
and equally miserable or equally happy." 

What! where all are huddled together — the 
honorable, virtuous, and murderers, and whore- 
mongers, when it is written that they shall be 
judged according to the deeds done in the 
body? But St. Paul informs us of three glories 
and three heavens. He knew a man that was 
caught up to the third heavens. Now, if the 
doctrine of the sectarian world, that there is 
but one heaven, is true, Paul, what do you tell 
that lie for, and say there are three? Jesus said 
unto His disciples, "In my Father's house are 
many mansions, if it were not so, I would have 
told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and 
I will come and receive you to myself, that 
where I am ye may be also." — History of the 
Church, Vol. 5, p. 425. 

Spiritual Gifts — See "Faith and Spiritual 
Gifts." 

Temples, Laying Corner Stones of — If the 
strict order of the Priesthood were carried out 
in the building of Temples, the first stone 
would be laid at the south-east corner, by the 
First Presidency of the Church. The south- 
west corner should be laid next. The third, or 



186 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

north-west corner next; and the fourth, or 
north-east corner last. The first Presidency 
should lay the south-east corner stone and dic- 
tate who are the proper persons to lay the 
other corner stones. 

If a Temple is built at a distance, and the 
First Presidency are not present, then the 
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are the per- 
sons to dictate the order for that Temple ; and 
in the absence of the Twelve Apostles, then 
the Presidency of the Stake will lay the south- 
east corner stone ; the Melchisedek Priesthood 
laying the corner stones on the east side of the 
Temple, and the Lesser Priesthood those on 
the west side. — History of the Church, Vol. 4, 
p. 331. 

Tongues — See Gift of Tongues. 

Translated Bodies — Translated bodies can- 
not enter into rest until they have undergone 
a change equivalent unto death. Translated 
bodies are designed for future missions. The 
angel that appeared to John on the Isle of Pat- 
mos was a translated body. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 4, p. 425. 

Transmigration of Souls a Doctrine of the 
Devil — Tuesday, November 10. — I resumed 
conversation with Matthias, and desired him to 
enlighten my mind more on his views respect- 
ing the resurrection. 

He said that he possessed the spirit of his 
fathers, that he was a literal descendant of 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 187 

Matthias, the Apostle, who was chosen in the 
place of Judas that fell ; that his spirit was res- 
urrected in him ; and that this was the way or 
scheme of eternal life — this transmigration of 
soul or spirit from father to son. 

I told him that his doctrine was of the devil, 
that he was in reality in possession of a wicked 
and depraved spirit, although he professed to 
be the Spirit of truth itself; and he said also 
that he possessed the soul of Christ. 

He tarried until Wednesday, 11th, when, 
after breakfast, I told him, that my God told 
me, that his god was the devil, and I could not 
keep him any longer, and he must depart. And 
so I, for once, cast out the devil in bodily shape, 
and I believe a murderer. — History of the Church, 
Vol. 2, p. 307. 

Treason, Beware of — O ye Twelve ! and all 
Saints ! profit by this important key — that in 
all your trials, troubles, temptations, afflictions, 
bonds, imprisonments and death, see to it, that 
you do not betray heaven ; that you do not be- 
tray Jesus Christ; that you do not betray the 
brethren; that you do not betray the revela- 
tions of God ; whether in the Bible, Book of 
Mormon or Doctrine and Covenants, or any 
other that ever was or ever will be given and 
revealed unto man in this world or that which 
is to come. Yea, in all your kickings and 
flounderings, see to it that you do not this 
thing, lest innocent blood be found upon your 
skirts, and you go down to hell. All other 
sins are not to be compared tQ sinning against 



188 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

the Holy Ghost, and proving a traitor to the 
brethren. — History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 
385. 

Visions — We may look for angels and receive 
their ministrations, but we are to try the spir- 
its and prove them, for it is often the case that 
men make a mistake in regard to these things. 
God has so ordained that when He has com- 
municated, no vision is to be taken but what 
you see by the seeing of the eye, or what you 
hear by the hearing of the ear. When you 
see a vision, pray for the interpretation; if 
you get not this, shut it up; there must be 
certainty in this matter. An open vision will 
manifest that which is more important. Lying 
spirits are going forth in the earth. There 
will be great manifestations of spirits, both 
false and true. — Hstory of the Church, Vol. 
3, p. 391. 

Wicked, The Punishment of the — There is 
no pain so awful as that of suspense. This is 
the punishment of the wicked; their doubt, 
anxiety and suspense cause weeping, wailing 
and gnashing of teeth. — History of the Church, 
Vol. 5, p, 340. 

Women Not to Found Churches — A woman 
has no right to found or organize a church — 
God never sent them to do it. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 4, p. 579. 

Wrong-Doing to be Proved by Evidence — 

A woman, near the same place, professed 



Joseph smith's teachings. 189 

to have the discerning of spirits, and be- 
gan to "accuse" another sister of things that 
she was not guilty of, which she said she knew 
was so by the spirit, but was afterwards proven 
to be false; she placed herself in the capacity 
of the " 'accuser' of the brethren," and no per- 
son through the discerning of spirits can bring 
a charge against another, they must be proven 
guilty by positive evidence, or they stand clear. 
—History of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 581. 

Zion, Importance of Gathering to — Take 
away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, 
and where is our religion ? We have none ; for 
without Zion, and a place of deliverance, we 
must fall ; because the time is near when the 
sun will be darkened, and the moon turn to 
blood, and the stars fall from heaven, and the 
earth reel to and fro. Then, if this is the case, 
and if we are not sanctified and gathered to 
the places God has appointed, with all our 
former professions and our great love for the 
Bible, we must fall; we cannot stand; we can- 
not be saved; for God will gather out His 
Saints from the Gentiles, and then comes des- 
olation and destruction, and none can escape 
except the pure in heart who are gathered. — 
History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 52. 

Zion, Warning to — The Lord will have a 
place whence His word will go forth, in these 
last days, in purity ; for if Zion will not purify 
herself, so as to be approved of in all things, in 
His sight, He will seek another people ; for His 



190 Joseph smith's teachings. 

work will go on until Israel is gathered, and 
they who will not hear His voice, must expect 
to feel His wrath. Let me say unto you, seek 
to purify yourselves, and also all the inhab- 
itants of Zion, lest the Lord's anger be kindled 
to fierceness. Repent, repent, is the voice of 
God to Zion; and strange as it may appear, 
yet it is true, mankind will persist in self-justi- 
fication until all their iniquity is exposed, and 
their character past being redeemed, and that 
which is treasured up in their hearts be ex- 
posed to the gaze of mankind. I say to you 
(and what I say to you I say to all), hear the 
warning voice of God, lest Zion fall, and the 
Lord swear in His wrath the inhabitants of 
Zion shall not enter into His rest. — History of 
the Church, Vol. 1, p. 316. 

Zion, Redemption of — I know that Zion, in 
the due time of the Lord, will be redeemed but 
how many will be the days of her purification, 
tribulation, and affliction, the Lord has kept 
hid from my eyes ; and when I inquire concern- 
ing this subject, the voice of the Lord is : Be 
still, and know that I am God! all those who 
suffer for my name shall reign with me, and he 
that layeth down his life for my sake shall find 
it again. 

Now, there are two things of which I am ig- 
norant ; and the Lord will not show them unto 
me, perhaps for a wise purpose in Himself — 
I mean in some respects — and they are these: 
Why God has suffered so great a calamity to 



JOSEPH smith's teachings. 191 

come upon Zion, and what the great moving 
cause of this great affliction is; and again, by 
what means He will return her back to her 
inheritance, with songs of everlasting joy upon 
her head. These two things, brethren, are in 
part kept back that they are not plainly shown 
unto me; but there are some things that are 
plainly manifest which have incurred the dis- 
pleasure of the Almighty. — History of the 
Church, Vol. 1, p. 453. 

Zion, What Prophets have said Concerning — 

But all these impediments vanish when it is 
recollected what the Prophets have said con- 
cerning Zion in the last days; how the glory of 
Lebanon is to come upon her; the fir tree, the 
pine tree, and the box tree together, to beautify 
the place of His sanctuary, that He may make 
the place of His feet glorious. Where for brass, 
He will bring gold ; and for iron, He will bring 
silver; and for wood, brass; and for stones, 
iron ; and where the feast of fat things will be 
given to the just; yea, when the splendor of the 
Lord is brought to our consideration for the 
good of His people, the calculations of men 
and the vain glory of the world vanish, and we 
exclaim, "Out of Zion the perfection of beauty, 
God hath shined." — History of the Church, Vol. 
1, p. 198. 

Zion, Ransomed of the Lord to come to> — 

But the tribe of Judah will return to old Jeru- 
salem. The city of Zion spoken of by David, 
in the one hundred and second Psalm, will be 



192 JOSEPH smith's teachings. 

built upon the land of America, "And the ran- 
somed of the Lord shall return, and come to 
Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their 
heads" (Isaiah 35:10); and then they will be 
delivered from the overflowing scourge that 
shall pass through the land. But Judah shall 
obtain deliverance at Jerusalem. See Joel 2 : 
32 ; Isaiah 26 :20 and 21 ; Jeremiah 31 :12 ; Psalm 
1 :5 ; Ezekiel 34:11, 12 and 13. These are testi- 
monies that the Good Shepherd will put forth 
His own sheep, and lead them out from all na- 
tions where they have been scattered in a 
cloudy and dark day, to Zion, and to Jerusalem ; 
besides many more testimonies which might be 
brought. — History of the Church, Vol. 1, p. 315. 
Zion, Whole of America — You know there 
has been great discussion in relation to Zion — 
where it is, and where the gathering of the dis- 
pensation is, and which I am now going to tell 
you. The prophets have spoken and written 
upon it; but I will make a proclamation that 
will cover a broader ground. The whole of 
America is Zion itself, from north to south, and 
is described by the Prophets, who declare it is 
the Zion, where the mountain of the Lord 
should be, and that it should be in the center 
of the land. When Elders will take up and 
examine the old prophecies in the Bible, they 
will see it. — History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 
318. 



MAR 29 1912 



6X 

U M 



